American journalist Evan Gershkovich's secret trial on charges of espionage began Wednesday (June 26) in the eastern Russian city of Yekaterinburg, where he was initially arrested 15 months ago. Gershkovich appeared in a courtroom's glass cage before the closed trial began with his head shaved.

Yekaterinburg

American journalist Evan Gershkovich's secret trial on charges of espionage has commenced in the eastern Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Gershkovich, who was arrested 15 months ago, appeared in a courtroom's glass cage with a shaved head as the closed trial began.

No outside observers are permitted in the proceedings. U.S. Embassy staff had brief access to Gershkovich before the start of the trial. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow stated that Russian authorities have failed to present any evidence supporting the charges or justify his continued detention. They also questioned why Gershkovich's work as a journalist is being considered a crime.

Friends of Gershkovich have expressed skepticism about the fairness of the trial, fearing it could last for weeks or months. Concerns were voiced that he is being used by Russia as a bargaining chip for a potential exchange deal. Gershkovich's family also released a statement expressing their disappointment and urging the U.S. government to continue efforts to secure his release.

The trial is scheduled to resume on August 13th. Gershkovich was transferred to Yekaterinburg for the trial, having been held in Moscow until now. The Kremlin has indicated that discussions with U.S. officials about a potential prisoner exchange are ongoing.



Secret Russian trial begins for U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich

No one from the outside is being allowed into these proceedings. We know that some U.S. Embassy staff had brief access to Gershkovich prior to the start of the trial today, but that was it. In a statement they put out afterwards, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow said, quote, during this time, Russian authorities have failed to provide any evidence supporting the charges against him, failed to justify his continued detention, and failed to explain why Evans' work as a journalist constitutes a crime. What we saw today of Gershkovich was a much different view than what we're used to. He was inside that glass enclosure in the courtroom, that's known as the aquarium, but unlike all the other times we've seen him before in court, this time his head was shaved. Now, friends of his believe that is Russia's way of trying to make him look like a criminal. In a call this morning, the National Security Council said the trial was a sham and that Gershkovich had never worked for the U.S. government. Now, we've heard from several of Gershkovich's friends in the past few days. Here is what one of them had to say about the start of the trial. We're not holding our breath. It could take weeks or months. And we don't have much trust in the Russian justice system. Realistically, we believe that Russia will convict him because they arrested him in the end because he's a bargaining chip for Moscow, for Putin to be exchanged. Meanwhile, Gershkovich's family also put out a statement today saying, quote, these past 15 months have been extraordinarily painful for Evan and for our family. We miss our son and just want him home. We're deeply disappointed that he will have to endure further attempts to discredit him and to paint a picture that is unrecognizable to anyone who knows him. Evan is a journalist and journalism is not a crime. We urge the U.S. government to continue to do everything possible to bring Evan home now. Gershkovich's trial is set to resume on August 13th. Up until now, he had been held in Moscow. But for his trial, he was transferred nearly 900 miles away to the eastern Russian city of Yekaterinburg, where he was initially arrested 15 months ago. The Kremlin says they are currently talking to U.S. officials about a potential prisoner exchange.

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