The appeal follows a decision by a Moscow court to detain the Wall Street Journal writer until at least November 30 while he awaits trial.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appears in Moscow court on April 18. (Photo source: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Wall Street Journal Writer Detained Even Before the Trial
Lawyers for imprisoned Wall Street Journal writer named Evan Gershkovich have appealed a decision by a Moscow court to extend his pretrial custody until November 30. Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American citizen accredited by Russian authorities to operate as a foreign reporter, was seized on March 29 while on a reporting assignment. Russia’s Federal Security Service accuses him of spying, which he, the Journal, and the US government vehemently dispute.
Since his arrest, the journalist has been incarcerated at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. If the current extension is granted, he will have been imprisoned for at least eight months before any trial can begin. Prosecutors in Russia have not stated when a trial will take place. According to the court, Gershkovich’s appeal was filed on Friday at the Lefortovo District Court in Moscow. The appeal will be considered in Moscow City Court.
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Wall Street Journal Writer Detention Request for Bail but Rejected
Gershkovich’s lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. Gershkovich’s lawyers had already requested that the court grant him bail or allow him to await trial under home arrest. Their requests have been refused on several occasions. Gershkovich is the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage allegations since the Cold War’s end. The State Department has determined that he has been unfairly detained, launching a comprehensive US government operation to put pressure on Russia to release him. The Journal voiced dissatisfaction with the continuation of Gershkovich’s imprisonment on Thursday.
“We are deeply disappointed that he continues to be arbitrarily and wrongfully detained for doing his job as a journalist,” the newspaper stated in a statement. “The baseless accusations leveled against him are categorically false, and we will continue to advocate for his immediate release.” Journalism is not illegal.”
It was “also a reminder of the fight we’re in as Evan has now been wrongfully detained for five months—a horrific and sobering milestone in our efforts to free him,” said Emma Tucker, editor-in-chief of the Journal, and Almar Latour, chief executive of Dow Jones and publisher of the Journal, in a joint statement.
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