A first since the war in Ukraine and in a context of increased repression in Russia. The Russian justice placed in pre-trial detention, Thursday, March 30, an American journalist of the Wall Street Journal whom it accuses of espionage.

The arrest of Evan Gershkovich was announced Thursday by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The Kremlin claimed that he had been caught "red-handed", without substantiating its accusations.

According to a tweet by Reporters Without Borders, the Wall Street Journal correspondent was "investigating the Wagner military company." The NGO said it was "alarmed" by "what appears to be a retaliatory measure: journalists must not be targeted!"

Arrested in #Russie, American reporter Evan Gershkovich is accused by the FSB of espionage. The @WSJ's correspondent was investigating the Wagner Military Society. RSF is alarmed by what appears to be a "reprisal" measure: journalists must not be targeted pic.twitter.com/wSIxODFJJB

— RSF (@RSF_inter) March 30, 2023

This case comes in the midst of tensions between the United States and Russia related to the conflict in Ukraine. Washington also accuses Moscow of detaining several of its citizens for political reasons.

Journalist's lawyer excluded from hearing

Evan Gershkovich, a thoroughly Russian-speaking reporter known for his thoroughness, denied the charges against him during a hearing in a Moscow court, according to Russia's state-run Tass news agency.

The 31-year-old American journalist was nevertheless remanded in custody until May 29, the court said in a statement. Such detention may be extended pending a possible trial.

According to Tass, the case has been classified as "secret", which severely limits the publication of information about it. The journalist's lawyer, Daniil Berman, said he was unable to attend Thursday's hearing.

Investigation "into a company of the Russian military-industrial complex"

The only details available at this stage: the FSB announced that it had "foiled illegal activity" by arresting Evan Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, on an unspecified date.

The Russian security services say they suspect him of "spying for the United States", accusing him of having collected information "on a company of the Russian military-industrial complex".

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has passed several laws punishing any criticism with heavy prison sentences, or equating journalistic investigations on certain sensitive topics with espionage.

According to Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, journalists face up to 20 years in prison in theory.

While Russian press and journalists critical of the Kremlin are often prosecuted, foreign journalists have so far been spared, as Moscow has preferred to expel correspondents and tighten accreditation rules.

Kremlin warning

Before joining the American daily in 2022, Evan Gershkovich was an AFP correspondent in Moscow. Before that, he worked for the English-language Moscow Times. He is of Russian descent and his parents reside in the United States.

"The Wall Street Journal is deeply concerned for the safety" of Evan Gershkovich, the newspaper said in a brief statement.

The France, meanwhile, said it was "worried" and called on Moscow to respect press freedom.

Ignoring the criticism, the Kremlin claimed that Evan Gershkovich had been caught "red-handed", and warned against any form of retaliation against Russian media in the United States.

Prisoner exchange?

Independent Russian analyst Tatyana Stanovaya, who heads the R.Politik analysis centre, believes that in this case the FSB was able to take the journalist "hostage" for a possible exchange of prisoners.

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Several Russian-American exchanges have indeed taken place in recent years. Asked about a potential future exchange with Washington, Russian diplomacy deemed the subject premature, calling, via its Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, to "see how this history evolves".

With AFP

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