MOSCOW — Assembly behind closed doorways, a Moscow court docket on Tuesday prolonged the arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Avenue Journal correspondent accused of espionage, for greater than three months, till Aug. 30.
The refusal of bail and the extension of Mr. Gershkovich’s detention had been broadly anticipated, though Russia has introduced no proof to again the espionage accusation. The US authorities and The Wall Avenue Journal have vehemently rejected the fees, saying that “reporting shouldn’t be a criminal offense.”
Mr. Gershkovich’s mother and father, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, waited for greater than an hour exterior the courtroom earlier than being allowed into the listening to. It was their first sighting of their son since his arrest on March 29. The couple, who dwell in New Jersey, arrived in Moscow on Saturday.
State Division spokesman Matt Miller advised reporters in a briefing on Tuesday that the USA didn’t organize journey for Gershkovich’s mother and father to attend their son’s listening to. He added that, whereas he can solely think about their ache, the USA has suggested all Individuals to keep away from touring to Russia.
After the listening to, Mr. Gershkovich’s mother and father didn’t touch upon what that they had seen, however had been whisked away within the firm of one among Mr. Gershkovich’s attorneys. Ms. Milman wore a “Free Evan” button. Earlier than going into the listening to, Mr. Gershkovich’s father stated, “We hope he’s doing nice and that he will be as sturdy as his mom.”
Mr. Gershkovich, 31, has been held on the Lefortovo jail since he was detained on March 29 throughout a reporting journey to the central Russian metropolis of Yekaterinburg. If convicted, Mr. Gershkovich would withstand 20 years in a Russian penal colony.
A prisoner alternate, such because the one which secured the discharge of the U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner late final 12 months, wouldn’t happen till after a verdict is reached within the case, Russian officers have stated. Nevertheless, the Biden administration is understood to be working to safe an early launch.
The US authorities, The Wall Journal Journal, quite a few colleagues, teams supporting press freedom and distinguished worldwide officers have all condemned Mr. Gershkovich’s detention and referred to as the accusations made in opposition to him completely baseless.
The Journal stated in an announcement following the listening to that although “we anticipated there can be no change to Evan’s wrongful detention, we’re deeply disillusioned.”
“The accusations are demonstrably false, and we proceed to demand his rapid launch,” it stated.
U.S. diplomats had stated it was nearly sure that Mr. Gershkovich’s detention can be prolonged on the listening to and his software for bail denied. Even at the most effective of instances, a pretrial investigation of an espionage case usually takes months, and a 12 months might elapse earlier than a verdict is reached.
Russian-American relations are in a state of acute stress over the struggle in Ukraine, a battle that’s nonetheless formally referred to in Russia as a “particular navy operation,” and President Vladimir V. Putin has launched into a drive to suppress unbiased information retailers and free speech on the whole.
In Russia, the phrase “struggle” has come for use more and more, however to not describe the invasion of Ukraine ordered by Mr. Putin early final 12 months. Somewhat, it’s used to characterize a broad confrontation with the West — the USA, NATO and the European Union — from which there’s, within the prevailing Russian view, no turning again.
Earlier than the arrest of Mr. Gershkovich, Russia had not charged a Western journalist with espionage because the Chilly Warfare. At a listening to in a Moscow courtroom on April 18, journalists had been allowed to enter and noticed Mr. Gershkovich standing in a glass cage, crimson handcuff marks seen on his wrist. He flashed a smile and, by means of his lawyer, declared his dedication to defend his proper to work freely as an accredited journalist.
Lefortovo jail is notorious for the close to isolation and sometimes harsh situations imposed on its inmates. Mr. Gershkovich has been usually remoted, the diplomats stated, however his attorneys have been allowed to see him frequently.
The U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne M. Tracy, was allowed to go to Mr. Gershkovich on April 17, underneath intense Russian scrutiny. The Russian authorities have denied two requests for consular entry since.
Two American consular officers had been, after a protracted wait, allowed into the courtroom similtaneously Mr. Gershkovich’s mother and father on Tuesday. Like his mother and father, they left with out remark.
Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, has stated that Mr. Gershkovich was caught “red-handed,” however has not elaborated. Russia has not supplied any proof to assist the accusation of espionage in opposition to a journalist identified for his deep information of the nation.
Michael Crowleycontributed reporting from Washington.
