A Moscow court today extended – for the third time – by two months, until January 30, the detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in late March in Russia on charges of espionage, an offense punishable by a 20-year prison sentence.

“The detention period of Evan Gerskovich (…) has been extended by two months (…), until January 30, 2024,” the Lefortovsky court said in a statement.

Her journalist Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich was arrested by Russian security services while reporting in Yekaterinburg, Urals, on March 29.

Since then he has been held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, which is used by Russian security services (FSB) for the detention of prisoners in almost complete conditions isolation.

He rejects the accusations, as does Washington, his newspaper, his environment and his family.

“Disgraceful and outrageous attack”

The Wall Street Journal reported today that the continued imprisonment of American journalist Evan Gershkowitz is a “shameful and outrageous attack” on press freedom and called for his immediate release.

“Evan has been wrongfully incarcerated for nearly 250 days, and every day is a very long day,” the newspaper said in an emailed statement.

“The charges against him are categorically false and his continued imprisonment is a shameful and outrageous attack on the freedom of the press, which is critical to a free society. We continue to stand by Evan and call for his immediate release,” he added.