Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was just hit with a 16-year prison term after being convicted of spying in Russia – a charge American leaders have categorically denied.
Gershkovich was found guilty Friday by a Russian court in Yekaterinburg as prosecutors asked for an 18-year sentence, but Evan instead was handed 16, according to multiple reports.
In March 2023, Evan was first arrested for espionage as he took a trip to Yekaterinburg while
working on a WSJ story -- he's been in Russia ever since ... despite outcry here in the States.
The U.S. State Department has called Evan's detainment wrongful
and demanded that Vladimir Putin's government immediately release him.
Of course, the Russian dictator ignored U.S. officials and had his court move forward
with Evan's prosecution.
Dow Jones, the WSJ's publisher, issued a statement Thursday, condemning Evan's
"sham" trial. After his arrest, Evan was incarcerated at Moscow's infamous Lefertovo prison, where he spends almost every waking moment in his cell.