During a conference in Ekaterinburg, Russian judge Andrei Mineyev revealed that the trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lacked material evidence examination, leading to a swift verdict due to his fast typing skills.
Gershkovich’s arrest in March 2023 on espionage charges marked a significant event as the first foreign journalist detained for such allegations in post-Soviet Russia.
Despite vehement denials from Gershkovich, his employer, and the US government, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison following a trial described as a sham.
The closed-door proceedings concluded abruptly with Gershkovich being released two weeks later in a high-profile prisoner exchange between Russia and Western nations.
Judge Mineyev’s confidence in labeling Gershkovich as both a journalist and spy raised eyebrows, with reports indicating the verdict was delivered swiftly due to the judge’s efficient typing abilities.
2024-09-27 10:58:10
Link from www.theguardian.com