Russia will conduct the trial of Evan Gershkovich for espionage in secrecy, according to state-run media.
Evan Gershkovich, aged 32, remains imprisoned since his arrest last March, allegedly by the FSB, Russian's federal security service, for attempting to obtain classified information. Gershkovich, his employer, the Wall Street Journal, and the US government have categorically denied these charges.
Last Thursday, the Russian Prosecutor General's office announced the indictment and referred Gershkovich's case to a trial court. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years behind bars.
The trial will take place in the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, as reported on Monday.
For more than a year, Gershkovich has been held in Lefortovo Prison in Moscow, with his pre-trial detention extending on multiple occasions. The trial location in Yekaterinburg, over 1,100 miles east of the capital, adds to his predicament.
Last week, Russian prosecutors claimed Gershkovich was acting under CIA instructions when he was arrested in the prior month, alleging he had gathered confidential data about a Russian tank factory.
"Gershkovich carried out illegal activities using meticulous covert methods," they stated in a press release.
Gershkovich's incarceration has been a point of contention between Washington and Moscow, whose relationship was already on the rocks due to Russia's continuous invasion of Ukraine.
Prior to this, the White House accused the Kremlin of using Gershkovich, the first American journalist detained in Russia for espionage charges since the Cold War, as a geopolitical hostage.
On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declared the accusations against Gershkovich as completely devoid of credibility.
"From the outset, we've maintained that Evan has done nothing wrong. His arrest was unjustified in the first place. Journalism is not a criminal act. The allegations against him are baseless, and the Russian government is well aware of their baselessness. He should be released without delay," Miller stated during a State Department briefing.
Gershkovich is one of several Americans currently detained in Russia, including former Marine Paul Whelan, whom the US State Department also considers to be wrongfully detained.
The US has repeatedly cautioned American citizens against traveling to Russia.
Additional reporting by CNN's Stephanie Halasz, Anna Chernova, Natasha Bertrand, and Oren Liebermann.
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Despite the ongoing tensions between Russia and the United States over Ukraine, the trial of Evan Gershkovich for alleged espionage continues to be a contentious issue. This trial, scheduled to take place in the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, has garnered international attention, particularly in Europe.
The international community, including Europe, has expressed concern over Gershkovich's alleged espionage charges, as well as his lengthy imprisonment in Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. The trial's location in Yekaterinburg, over 1,100 miles east of Moscow, adds to his predicament, making it difficult for his supporters and legal team to attend.
