Russian authorities have announced that US journalist Evan Gershkovich will be tried in Yekaterinburg, where he was detained over a year ago on accusations of working for the CIA.

Gershkovich, aged 32, is charged with “collecting classified information” under CIA directives related to Uralvagonzavod, a manufacturer and maintainer of military equipment, as revealed by the prosecutor general’s office. This revelation marks the first detailed disclosure of the charges against him, though no trial date was provided.

Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, has been jailed since his arrest in Yekaterinburg, approximately 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) east of Moscow, on March 29, 2023, on espionage charges. He maintains his innocence.

The Wall Street Journal has responded to the Russian statement by branding the charges against Gershkovich as “false and baseless”. A joint statement from publisher Almar Latour and editor-in-chief Emma Tucker called for his immediate release.

“Russia’s latest maneuver towards a sham trial, while anticipated, remains deeply disappointing and no less outrageous,” the statement declared.

“Evan has been wrongfully detained in Russia for 441 days for merely performing his job as a journalist. The Russian regime’s allegations against Evan are abhorrent, dishonest, and based on deliberate falsehoods.”

The United States officially deemed Gershkovich “wrongfully detained” in April 2023, with President Joe Biden calling his detention “completely unlawful”.

Latour and Tucker expressed expectations that the US government would intensify efforts to secure his freedom.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller affirmed that Washington would continue working to bring Gershkovich back home.

“Evan has done nothing wrong. He should never have been arrested. Journalism is not a crime,” Miller stated. “The allegations against him are unfounded, and the Russian government is aware of their falsity. He should be released immediately.”

Possible Prisoner Exchange

Gershkovich is the first US journalist since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spy charges, a move that comes as Moscow toughens its laws on freedom of expression following its military intervention in Ukraine. Efforts by Washington to secure his release have been ongoing, but Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated it would only consider a prisoner exchange post-verdict.

When asked recently about Gershkovich by The Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the US was “actively engaging” to free the journalist. In a rare press conference with international reporters, he noted that such matters “aren’t resolved through media” but via a “quiet, composed, and professional approach.”

“Additionally, any agreement should be founded on mutual terms,” Putin added, hinting at the possibility of a prisoner exchange.

If found guilty, Gershkovich faces a potential 20-year prison sentence.

The Uralvagonzavod plant, situated approximately 100km (60 miles) north of Yekaterinburg, has been targeted by Western sanctions. Located in Nizhny Tagil in the Sverdlovsk region, it is significant in supplying tanks for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

Operated by a state-owned conglomerate under a close ally of Putin, the factory is noted for producing T-90M battle tanks and upgrading T-72B3M tanks.

The actual number of tanks lost by Russia in Ukraine is not publicly disclosed, but Russia claims it has increased tank production.

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies reported in February that Russia had lost over 3,000 tanks, matching its pre-war active inventory, but has sufficient lower-quality armoured vehicles in storage for several years’ worth of replacements.