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Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30

Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30
The White House condemning the arrest of an American journalist on Russian soil. Marking the first time *** US correspondent has been detained on spying charges since the Cold War. This espionage charges are ridiculous. The targeting of American citizens by Russian government is unacceptable. Russia's security service is accusing Evan Goshko, *** reporter at the Wall Street Journal Journal of trying to gain access to classified information. The newspaper denies the allegations and demands his release. The state department says it's in contact with the newspaper and the Russian government, our number one priority continues to be seeking consular access so we can meet with this individual and ascertain their well being and as much information as we can. Foreign relation experts say this is *** sign relations between the US and Russia are only getting worse amid its war in Ukraine. They also see reporting in Russia has become very difficult. It's tragic and also *** fear that this could be used for leverage as well. We saw that with the trade for Britain Griner in exchange having vied about this may be *** way to put pressure. The administration says it's still working to bring Paul Whelan another American home. He's been detained since 2018 on espionage charges. I spoke to Whelan's sister earlier this year. She says it's important for the government to act quickly. The longer the foreign country holds an American, they start dreaming of bigger and bigger prizes that they could get for that American.
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Moscow court rejects Evan Gershkovich's appeal, keeping him in jail until at least June 30
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain jailed on espionage charges until at least late June, after a Moscow court on Tuesday rejected his appeal that sought to end his pretrial detention.The 32-year-old U.S. citizen was detained in late March 2023 while on a reporting trip and has spent over a year behind bars. Last month, his arrest was extended until June 30 in a ruling he and his defense lawyers later appealed. The appeal was heard by a Moscow appellate court on Tuesday and rejected.His arrest in the city of Yekaterinburg rattled journalists in Russia, where authorities have not detailed what, if any, evidence they have to support the espionage charges.Gershkovich and his employer have denied the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained.Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips in soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over the Kremlin’s military operation in Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years — including WNBA star Brittney Griner — have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.Video below: White House says in March it's working to get Evan Gershkovich home from RussiaGershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s U.N. mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain jailed on espionage charges until at least late June, after a Moscow court on Tuesday rejected his appeal that sought to end his pretrial detention.

The 32-year-old U.S. citizen was detained in late March 2023 while on a reporting trip and has spent over a year behind bars. Last month, his arrest was extended until June 30 in a ruling he and his defense lawyers later appealed. The appeal was heard by a Moscow appellate court on Tuesday and rejected.

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His arrest in the city of Yekaterinburg rattled journalists in Russia, where authorities have not detailed what, if any, evidence they have to support the espionage charges.

Gershkovich and his employer have denied the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips in soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over the Kremlin’s military operation in Ukraine. At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years — including WNBA star Brittney Griner — have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.

Video below: White House says in March it's working to get Evan Gershkovich home from Russia

Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.

Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s U.N. mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.