Evan Gershkovich Germany

US journalist Evan Gershkovich released in prisoner swap with Russia

Journalist sentenced to 16 years in Russia on espionage charges

Gershkovich and other Americans wrongly detained

A Russian court on Friday sentenced Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. Gershkovich was arrested in 2018 and accused of spying for the United States. He has denied the charges.

The United States has called Gershkovich's detention arbitrary and politically motivated. The US has also demanded his immediate release.

In a statement released on Friday, the US State Department said: "The United States condemns the Russian court's conviction and sentencing of Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges. Mr. Gershkovich is an innocent man who was doing his job as a journalist."

The statement went on to say that the United States "will continue to demand Mr. Gershkovich's immediate and unconditional release."

Gershkovich is not the only American who is being held in Russia on espionage charges. Paul Whelan, a former US Marine, was arrested in 2018 and accused of spying for the United States. He has also denied the charges.

The United States has been negotiating with Russia for the release of Gershkovich and Whelan. In a prisoner swap last month, the United States released a Russian arms dealer in exchange for the release of Trevor Reed, a former US Marine who was serving a nine-year sentence in Russia on assault charges.

It is unclear if the United States will be able to negotiate the release of Gershkovich and Whelan. The Russian government has said that it is willing to discuss a prisoner swap, but it has not made any concrete offers.