Reporter Evan Gershkovich’s detention extended in Russia

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s detention in Russia, where he is being held on accusations of espionage, has been extended until the end of January.

A Moscow court on Tuesday extended Gershkovich’s detention until Jan. 30. He was detained in March while reporting in Yekaterinburg, a city that is about 1,200 miles east of Moscow, becoming the first American to be detained by Russia on spying allegations since the Cold War. He is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison.

The 31-year-old was detained on espionage charges despite being accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry to work as a reporter. The U.S. and the Wall Street Journal have maintained the allegations brought against him are false.

The Journal reiterated that Gershkovich’s detention is wrong and demanded his immediate release in a statement. 

“Our colleague Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court today, where his wrongful pre-trial detention was again extended,” the statement read. “This time until at least January 30.”

“Evan has now been unjustly imprisoned for nearly 250 days, and every day is a day too long. The accusations against him are categorically false and his continued imprisonment is a brazen and outrageous attack on a free press, which is critical for a free society. We continue to stand with Evan and call for his immediate release,” the statement continued.

This is not the first time Gershkovich’s detention has been extended. The Moscow court extended it in August, pushing the date of his release to Nov. 30. He later lost his appeal to be released from the jail last month. 

The U.S. and Russia have agreed to prisoner swaps in the past for Americans detained in Russia, including WNBA player Britney Griner late last year. The Associated Press reported the Russian Foreign Ministry has suggested it will consider a swap for Gershkovich, but only after a verdict is reached in his trial, which could last more than a year.

The Associated Press contributed.