U.S. Reporter Evan Gershkovich Sentenced to 16 Years for Espionage in Russia

A Russian court has found U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in prison. Gershkovich, who claims innocence, was allegedly spying for the CIA. The Wall Street Journal has dismissed the case as a sham. The trial's expedited nature has fueled speculation about a potential U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange.

A Russian court on Friday found U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years of imprisonment, according to state news agency RIA. The Wall Street Journal, his employer, has decried the charges as a sham.

Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American who denied any wrongdoing, stated that the allegations were baseless. His trial commenced last month in Yekaterinburg. Prosecutors accused him of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, gathering secret information about a company that manufactures tanks for Russia's war in Ukraine. He is the first U.S. journalist to face espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War.

The swiftness of his trial, held behind closed doors with Friday marking just the third hearing, has stoked speculation about a potential U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange involving Gershkovich and other detained Americans. When queried by Reuters on Friday about the possibility of such an exchange, the Kremlin declined to comment.

(With inputs from agencies.)