MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court docket on Thursday rejected an attraction by Wall Road Journal reporter Evan Gerhskovich and upheld an earlier ruling that he ought to stay in jail on espionage costs till late August.
The 31-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested in late March whereas on a reporting journey. A Moscow court docket agreed final month to maintain him in custody till Aug. 30. Protection legal professionals had challenged the choice.
Gershkovich, carrying a black T-shirt and lightweight blue denims, regarded tense and paced round inside a glass defendant’s cage whereas ready for the listening to to start on the Moscow Metropolis Courtroom. Earlier than the listening to started, different journalists within the courtroom have been requested to go away and the proceedings happened behind closed doorways.
Gershkovich’s mother and father and U.S. ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy attended the listening to. Talking to reporters afterward, Tracy mentioned that “Evan continues to indicate outstanding energy and resilience in these very tough circumstances.”
Gershkovich and his employer have denied he spied in Russia. The U.S. authorities has declared him to be wrongfully detained and demanded his speedy launch.
His arrest within the metropolis of Yekaterinburg rattled journalists in Russia, the place authorities haven’t detailed what, if any, proof they’ve gathered to help the espionage costs.
Gershkovich is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo jail, which is infamous for its harsh situations. U.S. Embassy officers have been allowed to go to him as soon as, however Russian authorities rejected two different requests to see him.
Russian Deputy Overseas Minister Sergei Ryabkov informed reporters on Thursday that the ministry is contemplating one other go to request from the embassy.
