Evan Gershkovich | |
|---|---|
 Gershkovich on his return flight from Russia | |
| Born | October 26, 1991 Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Bowdoin College (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Employer | The Wall Street Journal |
| Detention | |
| Country | Russia |
| Detained | March 29, 2023 |
| Charge | Espionage |
| Released | August 1, 2024 |
| Sentence | 16 years imprisonment |
| Time held | 1 year, 4 months and 3 days |
Evan Gershkovich (born October 26, 1991)[1] is an American journalist and reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering Russia.
Gershkovich graduated from Bowdoin College, majoring in philosophy and English and writing in student newspapers. He moved to Russia in 2016, contributing to multiple media outlets, and has been with The Wall Street Journal since 2022.
He was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service on charges of espionage in March 2023, marking the first time a journalist working for an American outlet had been arrested on charges of spying in Russia since the Cold War. The White House and media advocacy groups condemned the arrest. On July 19, 2024, Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted in an espionage trial. He was released on August 1, 2024, as part of a prisoner exchange.
The US officials have speculated that the motivation behind the order for Gershkovich's arrest was an anticipated prisoner exchange for one or more high-profile Russians imprisoned in other countries.[2] Gershkovich, who remained in the country following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine after his arrest in 2023.[3]
- ^ Bella, Timothy (April 8, 2023). "Evan Gershkovich adored life in Russia. Now, the reporter waits in prison". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ Volz, Dustin; Radnofsky, Louise. "Russia Has Shown Scant Interest in Prisoner Swaps for Dozens Held in U.S. Prisons". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "The 100 Most Influential People of 2023". Time. Retrieved April 17, 2023.