Moscow Court postpones ruling on appeal of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich.
MOSCOW Court Declines to Hear Appeal of Jailed Wall Street Journal Reporter
In a dramatic courtroom appearance, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sought release from jail on espionage charges. However, the Moscow City Court declined to hear his appeal and instead sent the case back to a lower court due to procedural violations.
This decision means that Mr. Gershkovich, 31, will remain behind bars until at least November 30, unless his appeal is heard earlier, which is highly unlikely.
Before the session ended, Mr. Gershkovich, wearing a yellow sweater and blue jeans, smiled at his fellow journalists from the glass defendants’ cage. He was detained in March during a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg, located 1,200 miles east of Moscow.
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Initially, there was confusion about the outcome as the state news agency Tass reported that Mr. Gershkovich’s appeal had been rejected. However, the report was later corrected to state that the case was referred back to the lower court.
The court proceedings are closed due to the classified nature of the criminal case. Mr. Gershkovich’s appearance in court on Tuesday was a result of a previous ruling in August that ordered his continued detention until the end of November.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited Mr. Gershkovich for the fourth time on Friday, following a plea from his parents at the U.N. headquarters for world leaders to pressure Russia for his release. Ambassador Tracy later stated that Mr. Gershkovich “remains strong and is keeping up with the news,” including his parents’ appeal.
“The plight of U.S. citizens wrongfully detained in Russia remains a top priority for me, my embassy team, and the entire U.S. government,” Ambassador Tracy emphasized outside the court.
The Russian Federal Security Service has accused Mr. Gershkovich of collecting classified information about a Russian military-industrial complex enterprise, allegedly under the instructions of the American side. Both Mr. Gershkovich and the Journal deny these allegations, and the U.S. government has declared his detention as wrongful. However, Russian authorities have not presented any evidence to support the espionage charges.
Currently held at Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo prison, Mr. Gershkovich faces harsh conditions while awaiting trial. He is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since 1986 when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB.
Analysts speculate that Moscow may be using detained Americans as bargaining chips amid heightened tensions with the United States due to Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. In recent years, at least two U.S. citizens, including WNBA player Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians imprisoned in the United States.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that they would only consider a swap for Mr. Gershkovich after a verdict is reached in his trial. Espionage trials in Russia can often last for more than a year.
What actions should the international community take to support Evan Gershkovich and advocate for press freedom in Russia
Ce in court was brief, with his lawyer arguing that the charges against him were baseless and urging for his release. However, the judges ruled that there were procedural violations in the handling of the case, leading to the decision to send it back to the lower court for further review and clarification.
The decision to decline Mr. Gershkovich’s appeal comes as a blow to press freedom and raises concerns about the treatment of journalists in Russia. His detention and the charges brought against him were widely criticized by international media organizations and human rights groups.
The Wall Street Journal, along with other media outlets, has called for the immediate release of Mr. Gershkovich. The publication has stated that he was in Russia solely for journalistic purposes and had committed no wrongdoing. The accusations of espionage are seen by many as an attempt to suppress independent reporting and intimidate journalists.
It is important to note that this case is not an isolated incident. Freedom of the press has been under increasing pressure in Russia in recent years. Journalists face harassment, intimidation, and attacks for their work, making it difficult for them to report on sensitive issues or hold those in power accountable.
The international community has a responsibility to speak out against these violations of press freedom. Journalists play a crucial role in providing information, investigating corruption, and holding governments accountable. When journalists are targeted and imprisoned for doing their job, it is a threat to the principles of democracy and transparency.
The case of Evan Gershkovich is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by journalists worldwide. It serves as a call to action for governments, human rights organizations, and media outlets to defend press freedom and ensure the safety and protection of journalists.
As Mr. Gershkovich remains behind bars, it is essential that efforts continue to secure his release and support him during this difficult time. The international community must put pressure on the Russian government to uphold the principles of freedom of the press and allow journalists to carry out their work without fear of retribution or imprisonment.
The Moscow City Court’s decision to decline the appeal and send the case back to the lower court is deeply concerning. It is imperative that the lower court conducts a fair and transparent review of the case, ensuring that Mr. Gershkovich’s rights are respected, and that justice be served.
In conclusion, the denial of Evan Gershkovich’s appeal and the referral of his case back to the lower court highlight the challenges faced by journalists in Russia and the importance of defending press freedom. It is crucial for the international community to continue advocating for his release and to stand up for the rights of journalists everywhere.
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