US journalist goes on trial in Russia on spying charges | BBC News

After 15 months in a Moscow jail, the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has gone on trial in Russia accused of espionage.

The court case is being held 1,000 miles from the Russian capital in Yekaterinburg, the city where he was arrested on spying charges while on a reporting trip for his newspaper . Head shaven, and wearing a check shirt and jeans, Mr Gershkovich stood in the metal and glass cage known in Russian courtrooms as "the aquarium". He smiled to cameras, but made no comment. Journalists were admitted on the first day but his trial will be held behind closed doors.

Prosecutors claim that the American journalist had been collecting classified information about a Russian tank manufacturer near Yekaterinburg on behalf of America's Central Intelligence Agency. If convicted the maximum sentence is twenty years in prison.

Mr Gershkovich, his employer and the US government reject the charge. The White House says Russia is using Mr Gershkovich as a "bargaining chip".

Ben Brown presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Steve Rosenberg.

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