Russia jails US journalist Gershkovich for 16 years

US journalist Evan Gershkovich has been sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony in Russia after being found guilty of espionage by a Russian court. The trial was conducted in secrecy and has been widely condemned as a sham by his employer, his family, and the White House. Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), was arrested last March while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, a city located about 1,600 kilometers east of Moscow. Russian security services accused him of working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), allegations that Gershkovich, the WSJ, and the US government vehemently deny. This marks the first conviction of a US journalist for espionage in Russia since the end of the Cold War over 30 years ago. Both sides in the trial have 15 days to appeal the verdict, according to the judge. The WSJ's publisher Almar Latour and Editor in Chief Emma Tucker issued a statement condemning the conviction, calling it disgraceful and a sham. They noted that Gershkovich has been wrongfully detained for 478 days, separated from his family and friends, and prevented from doing his job as a journalist. They vowed to continue pressing for his release and supporting his family, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. Washington has accused Russia of holding Gershkovich as a bargaining chip for a potential prisoner swap involving Russian citizens held in foreign jails. Moscow is aware that the US is willing to make such swaps to secure the release of its own citizens, and the two countries have reportedly been discussing a possible exchange. Russian observers suggest that the quick conviction could indicate that an exchange is imminent, as Russian judicial practice typically requires a verdict to be in place before an exchange can occur. In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at the possibility of an exchange, possibly referring to Vadim Krasikov, a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) hitman serving a life sentence in Germany for the murder of a former Chechen rebel commander in Berlin. Gershkovich's trial began last month, with the final two days of proceedings initially scheduled for August. However, the hearing was unexpectedly moved up to Thursday, and the judge delivered the verdict late on Friday afternoon. Prosecutors had requested an 18-year prison sentence, but the judge ultimately imposed a 16-year term. In the charging indictment, prosecutors accused Gershkovich of acting under CIA instructions to gather secret information about a tank factory in the Sverdlovsk region. Gershkovich has consistently denied these allegations, and the WSJ has described the trial as a shameful sham and his detention as an outrage.