Gershkovich appeal rejected, ensuring detention into June

The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich had an appeal to try and end his pretrial detention rejected Tuesday by a Moscow court, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Gershkovich will remain in pretrial detention in Russia until late June on espionage charges as a result of the failed appeal, per the AP.

He was originally detained in March of last year during a reporting trip. His apprehension has been internationally criticized, with press freedom groups, the U.S. government and the Journal saying Gershkovich is wrongfully detained.

The 32-year-old Gershkovich seemed to be relaxed in court on Tuesday, the AP reported. He sometimes laughed and talked with his legal team.

Late last month, the Journal left a blank space on the front page of its print edition to call attention to the anniversary of Gershkovich’s detainment in Russia. Emma Tucker, the Journal’s editor-in-chief, published a letter on the same day urging again for Gershkovich’s release.

“This one-year anniversary is an opportunity to express our admiration for our colleague and his family,” Tucker wrote. “It is a reminder of the dangers facing journalists worldwide as they pursue their essential mission. And it energizes us to continue the effort to ensure that this is the last milestone that Evan spends in prison.” 

President Biden also released a statement upon the anniversary of Gershkovich’s detainment in which he said “journalism is not a crime” and that “Evan went to Russia to do his job as a reporter.”

“Shortly after his wholly unjust and illegal detention, he drafted a letter to his family from prison, writing: ‘I am not losing hope,’” Biden said.

“As I have told Evan’s parents, I will never give up hope either. We will continue working every day to secure his release.”

The Associated Press contributed.