Russia sentenced WSJ journalist Gershkovich to 16 years in prison

A Sverdlovsk regional court has sentenced The Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in a strict regime colony. The Russians charged him with alleged “espionage,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Russian prosecutor Mikael Ozdoev asked the court to impose an 18-year colony sentence on the American journalist.

The court completed the judicial investigation in two sessions, they were held in closed session on June 26 and July 18.

Russian prosecutors accuse the WSJ correspondent of allegedly gathering information about Russian defense contractor Uralvagonzavod on behalf of the CIA. Gershkovich was accredited in Russia and was in Ekaterinburg and other cities in the Sverdlovsk region, preparing reports for the newspaper.