The Russian court decided to extend the term of his temporary detention journalist from the Wall Street Journal, Evan Gerskovich, according to the New York Times.

The American journalist for the first time since his arrest – almost three weeks ago – appeared before a Russian court. locked in a glass cageas part of an appeal against his pre-trial detention on charges of “espionage”.

Dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans, with his arms folded across his chest and a calm look, Evan Gerskovich silently looked at the reporters.

At a meeting held behind closed doors, it was decided that the American will remain in custody until at least May 29, when the possibility of his release pending trial will be considered.

At the end of March, the Russian special services (FSB) arrested a journalist who was reporting in Yekaterinburg. The Kremlin claims that he was caught “on the spot” espionage. The case is classified and no evidence has been presented to support the accusation.

US Ambassador Lynn Tracy, who said yesterday that she was able to meet with a journalist for the first time in prison, is also in the courtroom.

The arrest of Evan Gerskovich came as a shock because no Western journalist has been arrested and charged with espionage in Russia for decades.

The 31-year-old journalist, known for the quality of his journalistic work and seriousness, faces 20 years in prison.

In the morning, during a raid by Russian special forces, the Russian anti-war activist Yaroslav Syrshikov, who was the first to announce the arrest of Ivan Gershkovich, was arrested in turn.

Source: New York Times/APE.