Russia has given a big blow to America. In fact, a Russian court on Friday convicted an American journalist on charges of espionage. Journalist Ivan Gershkovich was found guilty of espionage and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
According to Russia's state news agency RIA, the employer of the car Ivan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal, has called Russia's decision a sham. 32-year-old Gershkovich denied any wrongdoing and said that all the allegations against him are false. Last month, a case was filed against Gershkovich in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
accused of sharing confidential information
The Russian prosecutor alleged that American journalist Gershkovich had collected secret information on the orders of the US intelligence agency about a company that made tanks for Russia's war in Ukraine. Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be arrested on charges of espionage in Russia since the Cold War.
American journalist Ivan Gershkovitch was accused of espionage. Usually these trials take several months, but this case reached its final verdict very quickly. Gershkovitch's trial was conducted at an unusual pace behind closed doors. Friday's hearing was only the third hearing of the trial.
Speculation over swap deal
There is also speculation that the long-discussed US-Russian prisoner exchange deal is in the works. This deal talks about releasing more American prisoners held in Russia. But this did not happen. On Friday, when journalists from the news agency Reuters asked the Kremlin about the possibility of such an exchange, Russian officials refused to comment on it.
