On 26 March, a Moscow court announced it had "extended the term of detention of Evan Gershkovich until June 30, 2024" while awaiting trial on espionage charges. 

The 32-year-old journalist has been detained since 29th March 2023  and is isolated in Lefortovo prison, facing a maximum of 20 years in prison for allegedly “collecting classified information”. 

Gershkovich is the first reporter for a US news outlet to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. 

The Wall Street Journal said in a statement, “It was also Evan’s 12th court appearance, baseless proceedings that falsely portray him as something other than what he is — a journalist who was doing his job. He should never have been detained. Journalism is not a crime, and we continue to demand his immediate release.”

Before his arrest, Gershkovich was reportedly working on a story about Wagner, the Russian private military group run by the businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The decisions taken by the Moscow court represent yet another blatant attempt to shut independent voices in Russia. Vladimir Putin must stop holding the press hostage with such despotic practices. We demand Evan's immediate release."

UPDATE 25.04.2024 A Moscow court on 23 April denied US journalist Evan Gershkovich's appeal against the extension of his pre-trial detention in the espionage case that American authorities have rejected as false that sees him facing a maximum of 20 years in prison for allegedly “collecting classified information”.