A Russian court has handed down its verdict against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich after more than a year of trial.
The court found the 32-year-old Gershkovich guilty of “collecting secret information” while covering a trip to the Ural Mountain city of Yekaterinburg.
He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich attends second Russia hearing on bogus espionage charges
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands inside a glass cage in a courtroom in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Associated Press)
Prosecutors alleged that Gershkovich worked at the behest of the CIA to gather secret information about the Uralvagonzavod plant, which makes and repairs tanks and other military equipment, about 90 miles north of Yekaterinburg.
The US government has labelled Gershkovich as “unlawfully detained” and is seeking his immediate release through diplomatic channels. Gershkovich himself denies all the charges, as does The Wall Street Journal.
“Evan's wrongful detention has been outrageous since his wrongful arrest 477 days ago and must end now,” The Wall Street Journal said in a statement Thursday.
UN panel condemns Russia's 'inhuman' treatment of Evan Gershkovich, calls for his immediate release
Officers from Russia's Federal Enforcement Service patrol around a court building with the words “Palace of Justice” written on its facade, ahead of the trial of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges, in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Friday, July 19, 2024. (Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The statement continued, “Despite Russia orchestrating a shameful show trial, we urge Evan's immediate release; he was carrying out his job as a journalist. Journalism is not a crime. Bring him home now.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously suggested swapping the journalist for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian national who was jailed in 2019 for the murder of a Berlin-based Georgian who fought against Russian forces in Chechnya.
The judges said Krasikov acted on instructions from Russian authorities.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Gershkovich, who was arrested on espionage charges, makes a heart shape with his hands in his defendant's cage after a hearing of his appeal against his extended pre-trial detention at Moscow's First Appeals Court earlier this year. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP)
Gershkovich is the first known Western journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in post-Soviet Russia and is being held in Moscow's Lefortovo prison.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi or email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com.