The next step, in what his employer describes as a “sham” trial, is the lawyers’ closing arguments.
The unusually quick progress of the trial—the hearing was unexpectedly moved forward by more than a month, and the usually drawn-out witness testimony finished quickly—has stoked rumors of a possible prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia involving Gershkovich.
Facing up to 20 years in prison, a 32-year-old American journalist denies the charges and asserts his innocence.
He went on trial last month in Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage, accused of gathering secret information for the CIA about a company manufacturing tanks for Russia’s war in Ukraine. He is the first U.S. journalist charged with spying in Russia since the Cold War.
The FSB security service arrested Gershkovich on March 29, 2023, in Yekaterinburg. Both Gershkovich and the U.S. government maintain that he was merely performing his duties as a journalist accredited by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
His employer said on Thursday that Gershkovich has been unjustly detained for 477 days. “Even as Russia orchestrates its shameful sham trial, we continue to do everything we can to push for Evan’s immediate release,” the Wall Street Journal stated.
U.S. response
The U.S. Embassy said that Gershkovich is a journalist who committed no illegal actions, criticizing Russian authorities for failing to provide evidence or justification for his continued detention.
The deputy spokesman for the State Department, Vedant Patel, briefed the press that the trial was being closely monitored by Washington. However, he mentioned that the embassy was unable to attend on Thursday due to logistical issues and short notice.
Patel refused to discuss negotiations on a prisoner exchange publicly but said that Washington was working towards the immediate release of Gershkovich and another incarcerated American, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
"The timeline of the trial and what route that takes does not have a bearing and has no impact on the urgency that the United States has... We want both of them home immediately and we'll continue to work in this area until they're reunited with their loved ones," he said.
U.S. officials accuse Russia of using Gershkovich and Whelan as leverage for a possible prisoner exchange.
Washington considers both men “wrongfully detained” and is committed to securing their release. President Vladimir Putin has indicated openness to a swap involving Gershkovich, noting that contacts with the United States have occurred but must remain confidential.
Swift witnesses testimony
The court announced that the trial would resume on Thursday instead of the previously scheduled August 13, at the request of Gershkovich’s defense lawyers. This second hearing was closed to the press, with media access restricted until the verdict is announced.
According to Evgeniy Smirnov, a lawyer experienced in such cases but not involved in this one, the verdict could come as early as next week. Closed trials are standard in Russia for espionage cases involving classified information.
On Thursday, the court focused on witness testimony. Local news outlet Vechernie Vedomosti published a photo of pro-Kremlin lawmaker Vyacheslav Vegner outside the courtroom, who declined to provide details.
The trial is set to continue on Friday with closing arguments from both sides. “The two sides have finished presenting their evidence,” said Smirnov. “Now the prosecutor will request a sentence, Evan will deliver a final statement, and the judgment will be delivered.”
Smirnov suggested the unusual speed of the trial might potentially indicate a green light for an exchange.
The Kremlin maintains that the case is a matter for the court but has claimed, without evidence, that Gershkovich was caught spying “red-handed.”
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted that Russia possesses “irrefutable evidence” of Gershkovich’s espionage activities, though he did not elaborate.
