WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich has appeal rejected AGAIN as he’s left to rot in Putin’s prison on bogus spy charges
Gershkovich has already spent more than 300 long and painful days behind bars
WRONGLY jailed journalist Evan Gershkovich will remain holed up in a Russian prison as his appeal over his pre-trial detention was again rejected today.
The innocent American, 32, was locked up last year by Vladimir Putin on bogus spy charges.
Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich has already spent more than 300 long and painful days behind bars.
He was pictured today staring out of a cage at Moscow City Court.
The judge decided to dismiss his complaint about the extension of his pre-trial detention until March 30 on spying charges which he denies, the court’s press service said.
He will now remain in custody at a notorious Moscow jail until at least the end of March, where he is being held on trumped-up charges.
Brave Gershkovich was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29, 2023, in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on spurious charges of espionage.
Putin’s spy service alleged that the reporter, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected secret information about the Russian military-industrial complex.
However, Russian officials have not yet provided any evidence to publicly back up their claims.
Both Gershkovich and the Journal vehemently deny the allegations, while Washington declares him wrongfully detained.
He has repeatedly launched appeals to secure his freedom – all have so far been rejected.
The journalist is the first Western reporter to be jailed on espionage charges in Russia since the Soviet era, and he faces a prison term of up to 20 years if convicted.
Earlier this month, during a bizarre interview with Tucker Carlson.
Putin was quick to double down on baseless claims that the journalist had been sneaking classified and confidential information.
Despite his delusions – the Russian tyrant did eventually say an “agreement can be reached” to send Gershkovich home to the US.
Carlson asked the Russian despot if he would be willing to release Gershkovich – who is considered around the globe to be innocent.
Vlad hit back “We have made so many goodwill gestures that, it seems to me, we have run out of them.”
And in a deluded rant he went on: “No one has ever responded to our goodwill gestures with similar gestures.
“But we, in principle, are ready to say that we do not exclude the possibility that we can do this with counter-movement from our partners.
He eventually said: “We have no taboo about solving this problem. We are ready to solve it, but there are certain conditions that are being discussed through special services channels between the intelligence services.
“I think an agreement can be reached.”
Putin fears the free press
VLADIMIR Putin is known for jailing members of the press as he fears any criticism of his despotic regime.
By the end of last year at least 22 different journalists were behind bars in Russia.
Arrest warrants have also been issued to capture Russian journalists who fled into exile at the beginning of Vlad’s war in Ukraine.
Among those behind bars there now are two Americans: WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich and Radio Free Europe editor Alsu Kurmasheva.
Both are Russian-American and both were jailed on bogus spy charges.
Siberian journalist Maria Ponomarenko was sentenced to six years in prison last February for violating Russia’s wartime censorship laws.
Dad-of-five Mikhail Afanasyev was arrested in April 2022 for spreading “fake” news about Russia’s army and faces eight years in prison.
And in September 2022 a defence reporter from several prominent Russian newspapers – Ivan Safronov – was convicted of treason and locked up for 22 years.
He was accused – like Gershkovich – of gathering and sharing confidential information.
Alexander Valovm who edited an independent blog, was thrown behind bars for six years in December 2018 for ‘extortion’ – after criticising the government.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial.
But the US has previously claimed that proposals have been rejected.
On October 26, Gershkovich spent his birthday behind bars as his sister called on the international community to demand his release.
Danielle Gershkovich said: “Every day that Evan is in prison is a day too long.
“We want him home.”
Before today, previous several appeal bids were rejected – including one in January.
In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year.
Gershkovich is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, an infamously grim prison, known for holding Putin’s political prisoners.
Analysts have said that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after US-Russian tensions soared following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At least two American citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including basketball star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the US.
Meanwhile, Putin’s cronies this month detained a US woman on suspicion of high treason – leaving her facing 20 years behind bars.
Ksenia Karelina, 33, was taken away by Russia’s FSB security services on suspicion of raising just £41 for the Ukrainian army.
She was seen with her eyes covered as she was taken into custody by the Federal Security Service.
