The Judge at the Moscow City Court has upheld the decision of the lower court, denying Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich’s plea to change the terms of his detention from a pre-trial detention centre in the notorious Lefortovo prison to house arrest. 31-year-old Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison on espionage charges in what has been seen as the latest crackdown by the Russian Government on foreign media news outlets since its invasion of Ukraine last year. The Wall Street Journal has refuted the accusations.
Gershkovich remains in detention until 29th May, and his lawyers have so far been unsuccessful in releasing him on bail. Russia has detained the first US correspondent since the Cold War on spying allegations, causing outrage in the West and worldwide support for Gershkovich.
Experts claim the sweeping campaign of repression against independent journalists and civil society groups by the Kremlin is unprecedented since the Soviet era. Gershkovich's detention comes amid strained political tensions between Russia and the West and the increasing crackdown of opposition activists.
As to whether Evan Gershkovich will walk free, that remains uncertain. The legal timeline in espionage cases can take up to 18 months according to Russian lawyers.