Official announcements from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Treasury

WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich, 32, Sentenced to 16 Years in Russian Penal Colony on Espionage Charges

Jul 22, 2024, 12:50 PM

Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has been sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony by a Russian court on espionage charges. Gershkovich, who is 32 years old and the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, was detained on March 29, 2023. The U.S. government, press organizations, and bipartisan congressional leaders have condemned the conviction as a sham and a blow against freedom of expression. The Federal Security Service claims Gershkovich was caught 'in flagrante.' Former President Donald Trump has vowed to secure Gershkovich's release without compensation. The sentencing has sparked widespread calls for his immediate release and highlighted the increasing repression in Russia under President Vladimir Putin.