Evan Gershkovich's career and wrongful detainment in Russia

How the journalist landed his dream job in Russia, only to be arrested for his coverage

Evan Gershkovich
(Image credit: Illustrated/Getty Images)

While on assignment on March 29 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained by the Federal Security Bureau, accused of espionage. Immediately, the Journal and the Biden administration denied the allegations and demanded that Gershkovich, 31, be released.

The New Jersey native remains in Russian custody, with his most recent courtroom appearance on April 18. The judge rejected Gershkovich's appeal to lift his pretrial detention, and he was sent back to the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. His lawyer, Maria Korchagina, said the reporter was prepared to "assert his right for free journalism" and "to defend himself."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.