US reporter Gershkovich will remain jailed in Russia at least through November, court rules

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from a Moscow jail on espionage charges, which means he will be imprisoned at least through Nov. 30.

Gershkovich was detained in March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,200 miles east of Moscow. The 31-year-old U.S. citizen was accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry to work as a reporter but was detained on espionage charges. The Journal and U.S. government have said the charges against him are false.

This was Gershkovich’s second attempt at appealing the extension of his pretrial detention. The court extended his detention in August, prompting the reporter’s first appeal.

His detention was scheduled to end Aug. 30, but the Moscow court decided to extend his detention until at least the end of November.  

Russia’s Federal Security Service alleged he was “acting on the instructions of the American side,” and collected information about the Russian military.

Gershkovich is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, which is known for its hard conditions. He is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War.

Legal experts say it could be months before Gershkovich’s case is brought to trial, and even then, espionage cases can last for more than a year.

In a bipartisan effort, both chambers of Congress have called for the immediate release of Gershkovich and other wrongfully detained U.S. citizens.

The countries have exchanged prisoners before, including during the Russian release of WNBA star Brittney Griner. Russia said it would consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict was reached, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. has accused Russia of using jailed Americans as bargaining chips.

The Associated Press contributed.