Hidden from the public eye, a confidential trial is set to commence on Wednesday in a Russian court, determining the future of American journalist Evan Gershkovich.
The proceedings will be inaccessible to both the general public and the media, as the Wall Street Journal reporter faces unfounded espionage charges, labeled as “baseless accusations” by the newspaper’s editor.
For over a year now, Gershkovich’s family and friends have only seen him confined within a glass enclosure in a Russian courtroom, sparking deep concerns for his well-being.
“It was incredibly surreal that my close friend — a regular guy — would be the first American journalist arrested in Russia since the Cold War,” mentioned Sam Silverman, a lifelong friend of Gershkovich.
The bond between them was formed during their freshman year as roommates at Bowdoin College in Maine, and it has endured ever since.
“It was evident that journalism was not just a profession for him,” Silverman remarked about Gershkovich’s dedication to the field. “It was a vocation and a passion.”
This passion has come with a high cost. While reporting as an accredited journalist for the Wall Street Journal in Yekaterinburg, Russia in March 2023, Gershkovich was arrested by Russian authorities on espionage charges.
Denying the allegations are he, the newspaper, and the U.S. government, with the U.S. State Department declaring his detention as “unjustified.”
“We have maintained from the beginning that Evan is innocent,” stated State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing on June 13. “He should never have been apprehended; journalism is not a crime. The accusations against him are false, and the Russian government is aware of their falsity. He must be released immediately.”
Related story: US reporter Evan Gershkovich, jailed in Russia on espionage charges, to stand trial, officials say
Following 15 months of incarceration, the Russian authorities announced earlier this month that his secretive trial would commence on June 26.
“This trial is completely unjust,” Silverman expressed. “I mean, the accusations are unfounded.”
Gershkovich has been held in solitude for 23 hours a day at the infamous Lefortovo Prison in Moscow, a former holding place for political prisoners during the Soviet era.
“From what we’ve heard, it’s a facility designed to break you down mentally and spiritually,” Silverman stated.
The Wall Street Journal fears losing contact with Gershkovich once he is transferred for trial, potentially leading to a transfer to a harsher prison.
Two Americans, basketball player Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, were placed in penal colonies hundreds of miles away from Moscow upon their convictions in Russia.
Griner’s release was secured through a prisoner exchange with the U.S., while Whelan is currently serving a 16-year sentence involving manual labor in his fourth year.
Gershkovich’s supporters hold onto hope that the U.S. will facilitate his return.
“I want him to know that we’re here for him, united, fighting on his behalf,” Silverman affirmed, “and upon his release, we will throw him the grandest welcome home celebration he could ever imagine.”
International media reports disclosed earlier in June that Russian officials are engaging with U.S. authorities regarding a potential prisoner exchange for Gershkovich.
A previously failed deal involving him and Whelan fell through as it included Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who passed away while detained in a penal colony.
The specifics of this new agreement remain unclear, with the Kremlin spokesperson insisting that any negotiations be conducted in secrecy.
