Arrested reporters in Russia

Russia: Sent signals to US about prisoner exchange

Russia has been in contact with the United States about a possible prisoner exchange for imprisoned Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich. This is what Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state-run Russian media, according to AFP.

- The US administration should consider the signals they received in Washington through relevant channels, he says.

During Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also received questions about Gershkovich. Unlike the deputy foreign minister, he does not give any answers about a prisoner exchange.

- We can only repeat that this issue likes silence, he says.

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Evan Gershkovich in court - could get 20 years

Today, the trial of the imprisoned Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is being held behind closed doors in Russia. He is accused of espionage on unclear grounds and risks 20 years in prison if convicted.

- 99 percent of those charged with espionage are convicted, it is extremely rare to be acquitted, says Russia expert Carolina Vendil Pallin at the Total Defense Research Institute (FOI) to TT.

Emma Tucker, editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, also expects the Russian court to convict Gershkovich.

"The false accusation of espionage will inevitably lead to a false conviction against an innocent man," she said in a statement on Tuesday.