US journalist Evan Gershkovich’s detention extended until August 30

Evan Gershkovich remains in jail. A Russian court extended, on Tuesday May 23, until August 30 the provisional detention of the American journalist from wall street journalarrested in March on charges of“spying” which he rejects. “The court accepted the request of the investigators to extend the preventive measure in the form of detention until August 30”, said the court, quoted by Russian news agencies. This decision corresponds to what the Russian security services (FSB) demanded.

The Kremlin claims that Evan Gershkovich was arrested in “flagrante delicto”, without providing evidence, the file being classified secret. He is notably accused of having collected information on the Russian defense industry. Evan Gershkovich, his family, his employer wall street journal and the American authorities categorically reject these charges punishable by 20 years in prison.

The first foreign journalist imprisoned since the fall of the USSR

Evan Gershkovich, who previously worked for AFP in Moscow, is the first foreign journalist arrested in Russia for “espionage” since the fall of the Soviet Union. He is currently in the Moscow prison of Lefortovo.

His arrest comes in the context of serious diplomatic tensions between the United States and Russia caused by the conflict in Ukraine, where Washington supports kyiv militarily and financially against Moscow.