Russian court to hear jailed US reporter's appeal

A Russian court on Tuesday is scheduled to hear a defence appeal of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's arrest on espionage charges, which he and the US government strenuously deny.

Gershkovich, 31, is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia for alleged spying. Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, arrested Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, on March 29 and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory.

Gershkovich, his employer and the US government all deny he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.

Read | US urges Russia to free 'wrongfully detained' journalist

The Moscow City Court is set to consider a defence appeal of his arrest on Tuesday.

Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Russian lawyers have said past investigations into espionage cases took a year to 18 months, during which time he could have little contact with the outside world.

He is held in Moscow's Lefortovo prison, which dates from the czarist era and has been a terrifying symbol of repression since Soviet times.

The US has pressed Moscow to grant consular access to Gershkovich. On Monday, US Ambassador Lynne Tracy said she visited Gershkovich in prison for the first time since his detention.

Tracy said on Twitter that “he is in good health and remains strong,” reiterating a US call for his immediate release.

President Joe Biden spoke to Greshkovich's parents last week and again condemned his detention.

“We're making it real clear that it's totally illegal what's happening, and we declared it so,” he said.

Last week, the US government declared Gershkovich as “ wrongfully detained,” a designation that means that a particular State Department office takes the lead on seeking his release.

Read | Justin Trudeau speaks to Biden, calls on Russia to release Wall Street Journal reporter

In December, American basketball star Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges. She had been sentenced to nine years in prison and ended up spending 10 months behind bars.

Another American, Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges, which his family and the US government have called baseless.

During the Griner case, the Kremlin repeatedly urged the United States to use a “special channel” between the countries' security agencies to work on a potential prisoner swap, saying such private communications were the only appropriate means for a resolution.