Wall Street Journal Journalist Evan Gershkovich Faces Espionage Trial in Russia

Summary:
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has gone on trial in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on espionage charges that he, his employer, and the U.S. government deny. The trial is behind closed doors, and Gershkovich, seen in a glass defendants’ cage, faces up to 20 years in prison. Arrested 15 months ago, he has been detained in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison. The U.S. State Department has declared him "wrongfully detained," and efforts for his release are ongoing. His case comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia, particularly over the Ukraine conflict. The trial is seen as part of a broader crackdown on journalists and foreign nationals in Russia, and there are talks of a potential prisoner exchange once a verdict is reached. The case has become a significant issue in U.S. politics, especially with the upcoming presidential election.