American Journalist Evan Gershkovich Formally Charged with Espionage by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)

On Friday, two Russian news agencies reported that American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is currently jailed in Russia, has been charged with espionage by the Federal Security Service (FSB). According to the reports, Gershkovich has entered a formal denial of the charges.

Gershkovich is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and was arrested in Russia in April. Since then, he has been held in a Moscow prison, and the charges against him have been widely condemned by U.S. Senate leaders as “baseless” and “fabricated.”

The news outlets did not provide details on when the formal charges were made or in what form they were presented. However, in the Russian legal system, the filing of charges and a response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe.

U.S. officials have called for Gershkovich’s immediate release, and have expressed concern over the lack of due process in his case. The Wall Street Journal has also called for his release, saying that the charges against him are “unfounded and politically motivated.”

Gershkovich’s case has drawn international attention, with the U.S. State Department and other governments calling for his release. It remains to be seen how the Russian government will respond to the outcry over his detention.