By Brooke Mallory, OAN Staff
Friday, July 19, 2024 2:25 p.m.
A Russian court on Friday sentenced American journalist Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in a maximum security prison. The court, in a joint statement with the U.S. government and his employer, The Wall Street Journalaccusing it of fraud.
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More than a year after his arrest on espionage charges in the southern Russian city of Yekaterinburg, Gershkovich, 32, still denies any wrongdoing in the case, which went on trial last month.
Russia has not released any evidence to support the charges against Gershkovich.
In a telephone interview, the press service of the Sverdlovsk Regional Court told journalists that in closing arguments, prosecutors had sought an 18-year prison sentence for Gershkovich.
In its second verdict, the court announced that Gershkovich was guilty of collecting classified information about the operations of defense companies for the purpose of manufacturing and repairing military equipment at the direction of US intelligence services.
Judge Andrey Mineev of the Sverdlovsk Regional Court remanded Gershkovich to custody pending “the proper execution of the sentence.” The journalist is also expected to have to pay court costs, which should amount to around $75. NBC News He stated.
Gershkovich has 15 days to appeal to the court.
Moreover, in a recent interview Associated Press“We are pleased to announce that Dow Jones Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),” said Jay Contee, executive vice president and general counsel at Dow Jones. The Wall Street Journalsaid the trial was a “sham based on completely false accusations.” [made] Up.”
The US government has also condemned the allegations against Gershkovich and considers his detention unjustified.
Gershkovich’s arrest became a focal point of the US presidential election after 2024 Republican candidate Donald Trump said in May that he could convince Putin to release Gershkovich if he was re-elected, and Putin has previously said he could reach a deal to free him.
Gershkovich frequently smiled and appeared in good spirits during previous court appearances in Yekaterinburg and Moscow, but his family said his imprisonment had caused them great anguish.
“It’s been difficult,” Mikhail Gershkovich, the journalist’s father, said in March on the anniversary of his son’s arrest. “He spent all four seasons there, all his birthdays, all his holidays there. I want him to come back as soon as possible.”
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