Rome, 26 June 2024 – Starts today process to Evan GershkovichAmerican journalist for the Wall Street Journal, accused of espionage in Russia.
US journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared before court in a glass cage (EPA)
About fifteen were admitted to court journalists for the first quarter of an hour of the hearing, in order to carry out the “protocol” filming. The session is then continued behind closed doors. Gershkovich appeared before the court inacquarium, as it is called in Russian courts a glass and metal cage in which the defendants are closed, with their heads shaved. The 32-year-old American smiled at the photographers, without saying anything.
Gershkovich it was arrested 15 months ago in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg and formally charged with espionage on June 13 this year. According to Russian investigators, he collected money classified information on behalf of the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a plant that produces and repairs tanks and other military equipment. If the court finds him guilty, the journalist is at risk up to 20 years in prison.
The charges are rejected as unfounded by Gershkovich et al Wall Street Journalwho spoke of “completely accusations invented” against his journalist. The American government believes the 32-year-old is illegally detained from Russia. The spokesperson for the American National Security Council, John Kirby, today assured that the US is “doing everything possible” to secure the journalist’s release.
“Journalism is not a crime” the journalist’s family declared today. “These last 15 months have been extraordinarily painful for Evan and our family. We miss our son and we want him at home.”
To get to the release of Gershcovich, the possibility of one is not excluded exchange of prisoners between the USA and Russia. In an interview a few months ago, Putin he had hinted that he was willing to free Gershkovich in exchange for the release of Vadim Krasikov, alleged former Russian intelligence agent detained in Germany. Today the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the US administration “has yet to take the signs seriously”. “They should not ignore them, as they usually do, but think about the essence of these signals. Maybe then something will become clearer to them,” Ryabkov said.
The Kremlin yes it is though declined to comment regarding the possible agreement. “We can’t talk about any signal, we can only repeat that this topic really likes silence”, declared the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. “The investigation is ongoing, the trial is ongoing, so We just have to wait the verdict that will be issued,” concluded Peskov.
Also Donald Trump, on the social network Truth, commented on the news of the start of the trial. “Evan Gershkovich will be released before I officially take office if I win the election on November 5,” the Republican candidate wrote. “Putin has no respect for Biden – and that’s how things go!!!” of the law in the post written by the tycoon. “Don’t worry, Evan, I’ll get you home soon and you’ll be safe while you’re there!” concludes Trump.
