Russia’s security services, the FSB, formally charged U.S. citizen Evan Gershkovich, a reporter with the Wall Street Journal’s Moscow bureau, with charges of espionage, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Friday, adding that Gershkovich denies the charges.
TASS quoted an unnamed person as saying that “the FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia.”
The filing of charges and a response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe, the Associated Press reported.
Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg on March 29. He could face up to 20 years in jail.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Gershkovich had been caught “red handed.” The Wall Street Journal denies the accusations. U.S. President Joe Biden has called for his immediate release.
On Thursday, the U.S ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case, Russian state news agency Interfax reported.
