Reported 8 months ago
American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia in March 2023 and accused of spying for the CIA, making him the first Western journalist arrested in Russia on spy charges since the Soviet era. Gershkovich will face a closed-door trial on June 26, with potential 20 years imprisonment if convicted. Both Gershkovich and US authorities deny all accusations, highlighting the case as baseless. The US accuses Russia of using baseless charges to detain American citizens for negotiation leverage, while Russia expresses willingness for a potential prisoner swap involving Gershkovich and a convicted Russian citizen. Russian President Putin has discussed the possibility of a swap with the US, emphasizing the need for secrecy in handling the matter.
Source: YAHOO