A 31-year-old journalist Wall Street Journal He was arrested in late March and detained on suspicion of espionage. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to 20 years. Gershkovich and his boss deny any espionage work, but according to the Kremlin, the American was implicated in the activity, although no evidence has been shared so far.

The trial in a Moscow court was partially open to the media, which saw Gershkovich for the first time since his arrest. He was separated from the rest of the room by glass walls. Footage shows him crossing his arms and smiling.

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The US government argues that Gershkovich is wrongfully detained and has prioritized his release. On Monday, he was met by US Ambassador to Russia Lynn Tracy. She later announced that the journalist was fine and strong.

Gershkovich, whose parents left the Soviet Union for America, has been writing about Russia for more than five years. He was working on an essay about the Russian public’s attitude toward the recruitment efforts of Wagner Group’s mercenaries fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

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