A Moscow court has rejected the appeal of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich against the three-month extension of his pre-trial detention on charges of spying, as reported by the media on Tuesday.
Gershkovich, who works for The Wall Street Journal and is a former journalist for The Moscow Times, had contested the judge’s decision in August to prolong his custody until November 30.
The Moscow City Court has upheld its original ruling, according to the independent news outlet Sota.
Vasily Polonsky, an independent journalist, has shared footage of Gershkovich inside a glass enclosure for defendants awaiting the court hearing.
Polonsky mentioned that the hearing was held behind closed doors.
According to Russian law, individuals found guilty of espionage can face up to 20 years in prison.
Gershkovich was arrested in March while on a reporting trip to the Urals and was accused of spying, charges that he, the U.S. government, and The Wall Street Journal strongly deny.
This case represents the first time a Western journalist has been arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the end of the Cold War.
Since the launch of full-scale hostilities against Ukraine last year, Russia has made it increasingly difficult for Western journalists to obtain accreditation and work in the country.
In recent years, several U.S. citizens have been given lengthy sentences in Russia. The U.S. accuses Moscow of using them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Russians held in the U.S.
AFP contributed reporting.
