Outrage grows over Evan Gershkovich’s 16-year sentence in Russian penal colony

The White House has lashed out at the wrongful conviction of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison on Friday after being accused of spying.

The Wall Street Journal reporter will be sent to a high-security penal colony following a trial the US called a sham. The verdict was widely expected as acquittals in Russian espionage trials are incredibly rare.

President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday that Gershkovich had “committed no crime” and that “he was targeted by the Russian government because he is a journalist and an American.”

“We are pushing hard for Evan’s release and will continue to do so,” he added. “As I have long said and as the UN also concluded, there is no question that Russia is wrongfully detaining Evan. Journalism is not a crime.”

He went on to say that “Evan has endured his ordeal with remarkable strength.”

The publisher of The Wall Street Journal, Almar Latour, and the paper’s editor in chief, Emma Tucker, said in a statement: “This disgraceful, sham conviction comes after Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully detained, away from his family and friends, prevented from reporting, all for doing his job as a journalist.”

“We will continue to do everything possible to press for Evan’s release and to support his family,” they added. “Journalism is not a crime, and we will not rest until he’s released. This must end now.”

The Russian authorities have failed to publicly share any evidence to back up their claims that Gershkovich is guilty of espionage. Both the US government and his employer have repeatedly rejected the allegations. A spokesperson for the Russian court said on Friday that the reporter “did not admit guilt.”

Russian prosecutors approved