US journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia last week, was formally charged with “espionage” on Friday, a charge he “categorically denies”, Russian news agencies reported.
According to Interfax, Mr. Gershkovich, a correspondent for the wall street journal also worked for theAFP in the past, is being prosecuted under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, a charge punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Authorities have “charged Gershkovich with spying on behalf of his country. He categorically denied all charges and said his activities in Russia were journalistic,” TASS reported, citing an unnamed source within the security forces.
This indictment paves the way for a trial, the date of which has not yet been announced.
The reporter was arrested last week by the Russian security services (FSB) while reporting in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals. The authorities accused him, among other things, of collecting information on the defense industry.
The United States and the Wall Street Journal have dismissed the espionage charges and called on the Kremlin to release the 31-year-old journalist, who is a US citizen of Russian descent.
His arrest comes in a context of increased repression in Russia against the press since the offensive against Ukraine, which has greatly strained relations between Moscow and Washington.
It also follows an exchange in December between American basketball star Brittney Griner, who was in custody in Russia, and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, a prisoner in the United States.
Washington has repeatedly accused Moscow of arbitrarily arresting Americans to use as bargaining chips and recover Russians detained in the United States.