On Friday, Tass and Interfax, two Russian news agencies, reported that Russia had charged Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who is currently in jail, with espionage.
According to a law enforcement source, Russia’s Federal Security Service, also known as the FSB, has officially charged the American journalist.
It is unclear when or in what form the authorities formally charged Gershkovich, but they typically present suspects with a paper outlining the accusations.
The filing of charges and the response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe in the Russian legal system, initiating what could be a long and secretive Russian judicial process.
Tass quoted its source as saying: “The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. Evan Gershkovich categorically denied all accusations. He stated that he engaged in journalistic activities in Russia.
Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city, on March 29.
The FSB specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.
The case has caused an international uproar.
U.S. Bipartisan statement
In a rare U.S. bipartisan statement, the Senate’s top two leaders demanded Friday that Russia immediately release Gershkovich. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. declared that “journalism is not a crime” and praised Gershkovich as an “internationally known and respected independent journalist.”
On Thursday, the U.S ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case.
In the meeting with U.S. Ambassador Lynne T. Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed “the serious nature of the charges” against Gershkovich, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement.
The statement repeated earlier claims that Russia made, which stated that they caught Evan Gershkovich in the act of attempting to obtain secret information. Also that he used his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions.
Lawyers representing Gershkovich met with him Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to Wall Street Journal. Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker.
Tucker said the reporter is in good health and “is grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world. We continue to call for his immediate release.”
Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation. A Moscow court said Monday that it had received a defense appeal of his arrest; the appeal is scheduled to be heard on April 18, Russian news agencies reported.