Prosecutors in Russia have requested an 18-year term in a maximum-security colony for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is accused of espionage, TASS reported on Friday, citing the Sverdlovsk Regional Court.
The 32-year-old US citizen was arrested in March last year while allegedly trying to gather classified information about Uralvagonzavod, a major Russian tank and armored vehicle manufacturer, in Ekaterinburg.
Gershkovich has been held in detention during the investigation. Last month, Russia’s prosecutor general launched court proceedings after formally charging Gershkovich with attempting to obtain military secrets for the CIA.
Both Gershkovich and the Wall Street Journal have denied allegations and have claimed that he is being held unlawfully.
Roger Carstens, US special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, said in June that Washington had attempted to broker a deal with Moscow for the release of Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, another American arrested on espionage charges in Moscow nearly six years ago, but had thus far failed to succeed in these efforts.
The hearing on Gershkovich’s case is in progress, with a verdict expected later on Friday. The trial is being held behind closed doors as the case involves classified information. According to the court press-service, Gershkovich again denied any wrongdoing at the hearing.
At a press conference in New York on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow had “irrefutable” evidence that Gershkovich was involved in espionage. He noted that Russian and American intelligence agencies are in contact regarding a potential prisoner swap involving the journalist, but refused to give further details on the matter.