Washington has accused Moscow of arresting its citizens on baseless charges to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Russians convicted abroad.
US journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Russia n court for the start of his closed-door trial for espionage on Wednesday, 15 months after his shock arrest on charges he, his employer and the White House reject as false.
He wore a dark checked shirt and jeans, his head shaven, according to an AFP reporter in the courtroom. The US State Department said the accusations against him had"zero credibility", while the Wall Street Journal said he was arrested for"simply doing his job". US President Joe Biden, who hailed Gershkovich as courageous for his reporting in Russia, has said his administration will work"every day" to bring the reporter home.
Russia holds other US citizens in its jails, including marine Paul Whelan, in pri son for more than five years on spying charges, and US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was detained last year while visiting family.Raised in New Jersey and a fluent Russian speaker, Gershkovich reported from Russia for six years and stayed there even as dozens of other Western journalists left in the wake of Moscow's Ukraine offensive.
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