Move FM Global News
Russian media reports court to hear appeal from jailed American
Apr 10, 2023MOSCOW, Russia: Russia’s Interfax news agency has reported that a Moscow court will consider an appeal by lawyers of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to end his pre-trial detention.
US citizen Gershkovich was arrested last week in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and charged with espionage.
The Wall Street Journal, Western leaders and the reporter’s colleagues have stressed that the charges against him are not true.
Shortly after Gershkovich’s arrest, a court in Moscow ordered him to be held in pre-trial detention at the Lefortovo prison until at least 29th May.
As Russia considers information related to the charges to be classified, the upcoming hearing will also be held behind closed doors, Interfax said.
Meanwhile, Western leaders, including US President Joe Biden, has urged Russia to release Gershkovich.
Already at their lowest level in decades, Gershkovich’s arrest has further strained US-Russia relations.
The Wall Street Journal said it “vehemently denies” the charges, and dozens of media organizations have called upon Russia to release Gershkovich immediately.
