Court rejects complaint by US reporter Gershkovich against pre-trial detention in Russia
World
Court rejects complaint by US reporter Gershkovich against pre-trial detention in Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court on Tuesday dismissed a complaint by U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich against the extension of his pre-trial detention, more than six months after his arrest on spying charges which he denies.
Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage that carry up to 20 years in prison.
Gershkovich, wearing jeans with a dark shirt over a white T-shirt, smiled quizzically from a glass box in court at journalists who were allowed to photograph him before the closed hearing. FSB officers, some in masks, looked on.
Judge Yuri Pasyunin said the Moscow city court had decided to leave intact an earlier court decision to extend his pre-trial detention.
"The appeal complaint is left without satisfaction," Pasyunin said. Reporters were allowed to listen to the court's decision via a video link in a different part of the court house.
The decision essentially means that Gershkovich, 31, will remain in detention. No date has been set for his trial.
Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be detained on spy charges in Russia since the Cold War over three decades ago. American diplomats attended the Moscow courthouse.
Russia has said Gershkovich was caught "red-handed" while the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said he was trying to obtain military secrets.
