MOSCOW: A Moscow court will decide on Thursday whether to extend the pre-trial detention of incarcerated Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich.
Gershkovich was arrested in March during a reporting visit to the Urals and accused of espionage– charges that he, his employer, and the United States government vehemently deny.
The detention is expected to be extended as Moscow rarely releases prisoners before their trials, according to AFP.
First Western Journalist Detained in Russia
His case marks the first time a Western journalist has been detained on espionage charges in Russia since the Soviet era.
Court documents published Wednesday revealed that Lefortovo District Court would consider extending his jail term, which was set to expire on 30 August.
Since launching full-scale attack against Ukraine in 2022, Russia has made it more difficult for reporters from the West to obtain accreditation and work in the country.
Several US nationals have been handed heavy sentences in Russia in recent years. The US accuses Russia of using them as bargaining chips to obtain the release of Russians detained in the United States.
