Russia jails US reporter for 16 yrs for 'spying'; Biden slams conviction

MOSCOW: A Russian court found US reporter Evan Gershkovich guilty of espionage on Friday and sentenced him to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony in what his employer, the Wall Street Journal, called "a sham conviction".

Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American who denied any wrongdoing, went on trial in the city of Yekaterinburg last month after being accused of trying to gather sensitive information about a tank factory. He was the first US journalist accused of spying in Russia since the Cold War, and his arrest in March 2023 prompted many Western correspondents to leave Moscow.

US Prez Joe Biden said Gershkovich did not commit any crime and has been wrongfully detained. "We are pushing hard for Evan's release... Journalism is not a crime," he said.

"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," the Wall Street Journal said .

The defence has 15 days to appeal. The proceedings were closed to the media.