Evan Gershkovich, the detained Wall Street Journal reporter and New Jersey native, was present in a Moscow court Tuesday where officials declined to consider the latest appeal for his released from pre-trial detention. Gershkovich will remain in jail at least until late November.
American lawmakers and negotiators are working to negotiate Gershkovich’s release.
“We have an open channel with the Russians,” said U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, in an interview with NJ Spotlight News. “There is a pathway forward to discuss this issue with them.” Carstens said, “We are going to find a way to meet, close the gap between two sides and bring Evan home.”
Russia’s Federal Security Service alleges Gershkovich acted on the instructions of the United States to collect state secrets from Russia’s military-industry complex, allegations Gershkovich and The Wall Street Journal deny. Gershkovich is the first American journalist to face espionage charges in Russia since 1986.
