The secret trial is due to get underway on June 26, 2024, in the Siberian city of Yekaterinburg, where Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting assignment— the first American journalist jailed by the Russian government since the end of the Cold War.
He is being charged with espionage activities, although no evidence has been presented by Russian authorities to substantiate the charges. Both the White House and The Wall Street Journal have vigorously denied any accusation that Gershkovich was involved in espionage.
“We’re trying to keep Evan in the public consciousness,” said Gershkovich’s friend and classmate Sam Silverman ’14, in an interview with . “We want people to know about this situation where an American citizen has essentially been taken hostage by a foreign government and used as a political pawn,” he added.
The newspaper also quoted Professor of Government Laura Henry, a scholar of contemporary Russia politics and Eastern Europe. “It’s somewhat of a shock to find ourselves back at this moment,” she said, reflecting on how poor US-Russia diplomatic relations have become since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “Evan has always been a really intrepid and impressive reporter in Russia,” added Henry.
Those interested in supporting the campaign to free Evan Gershkovich can visit .
Gershkovich in the media: read a summary of the press coverage since his arrest.
