American journalist Ivan Gershkovitch, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March last year, is suspected of spying for the CIA. This is clear from the official indictment issued today by the Russian Prosecutor General. According to the prosecutor, he “collected secret information” about a factory that produces and repairs military equipment.

Gershkovich will appear in court in the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,650 kilometers east of Moscow. There is also the Uralvagonzavod plant that the journalist allegedly spied on. Gershkovitch was arrested in March last year while reporting in the city, and has since been detained in Moscow awaiting trial or release.

Gershkovitch has always said he only did journalistic work, and no evidence has ever been uncovered to support his espionage accusation. Earlier this year, the US government said the journalist had been “unjustly imprisoned” and was working to secure his release. Gershkovitch’s employer, the Wall Street Journal, maintains that he was only interested in the reports.

Russian President Putin had previously suggested in public statements that Gershkovitch could be released in a prisoner exchange: in exchange for Gershkovitch, Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov, who was sentenced to life in prison in Germany for the murder of a Chechen, should be released. Maverick. It is not known whether such a deal is already in the works.