OAN’s James Meyers
10:30 AM – Tuesday, November 28, 2023
A Russian court has extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
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Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday that Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges, will remain in detention until January 30th.
The case was not televised in Russia and took place behind closed doors because authorities claim the details of the case are classified.
The 32-year-old was detained in March of this year while on a business trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,200 miles east of Moscow. Russia’s Security Service alleged that the reporter, “acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.”
The Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich have denied the accusations, and the United States government has declared the journalist has been wrongfully detained.
Gershkovich becomes the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, was arrested by the KGB. He is currently being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, which is known for its extremely harsh conditions.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed they will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial. Trials for espionage in Russia can last over a year.
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