Evan Gershkovich Faces Espionage Trial in Russia

Summary:
Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter, is set to stand trial in Russia on espionage charges after being jailed for over a year. Arrested in March 2023 in Yekaterinburg while reporting on the Wagner mercenary group and Russian views on the Ukraine invasion, Gershkovich has been accused of spying for the CIA. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The Wall Street Journal has dismissed the charges as false and called for his release. U.S. officials, including President Biden and State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, are actively seeking his release, along with that of Paul Whelan, another jailed U.S. citizen. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated a willingness to negotiate under "mutually acceptable" conditions.