American journalist Evan Gershkovich found guilty of “espionage” by Russian justice and sentenced to 16 years in prison

American journalist Evan Gershkovich was found guilty on Friday, July 19, of “espionage” by the Russian justice system and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He will have to serve his sentence in a penal colony in “severe diet”the judge ordered, meaning conditions of detention that are significantly stricter than the “normal regime.” The reporter from Wall Street Journal was arrested in March 2023 by the Russian security services (FSB). His trial opened on June 26.

This condemnation is “scandalous” And “comes as Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongly detained, away from his family and friends (…) all for doing his job as a journalist”newspaper officials said in a statement. They vow to continue fighting for his release.

Reporters Without Borders describes the conviction of the American reporter as “hostage taking”. This judgment “must be immediately cancelled”the NGO believes.Journalists are not spies, and the conflation of journalism with espionage has extremely dangerous implications for press freedom.”