# Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years

Published 2026-09-23. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 3 sources.

Status: reversed, as of 2026-09-22.

What we don't know: The sources reviewed do not include the specific evidence Russian prosecutors presented at the closed trial.

Russia arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in March 2023 on an espionage charge his employer called fabricated, held him for about 15 months before a closed trial, and sentenced him to 16 years before releasing him in a prisoner exchange.[1][2][3][4]

- Country: [Russia](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ru) (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)
- Where: Russia
- Level of government: National
- Tactic: Detention and violence
- Stage: Eliminate (ladder: https://thewaronnews.com/ladders/detention_and_violence#stage-eliminate)
- Ladder note: Russia held a Wall Street Journal reporter for over a year on an espionage charge his employer called fabricated, then sentenced him to sixteen years; United States detentions of journalists in the record have not led to years-long imprisonment on state charges.
- Head of government at the time: [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/vladimir-putin)
- Issue of the day: Not stated in the sources reviewed.
- Outcome: Reversed, 1 August 2024. Gershkovich was freed in a prisoner exchange alongside RFE/RL editor Alsu Kurmasheva after 16 months in detention.
- Era: The 2020s

## What happened

Russian security services arrested Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, in Yekaterinburg on March 29, 2023, accusing him of collecting secret information for the United States Central Intelligence Agency about a Russian tank factory. He was held for nearly 15 months before a closed-door trial opened on June 26, 2024. On July 19, 2024, a Russian judge sentenced him to 16 years in a penal colony. The Wall Street Journal's leadership called the conviction a sham and said Russian authorities had failed to present evidence of a crime. The United States Embassy in Russia said he had done nothing wrong. On August 1, 2024, Gershkovich was released along with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor Alsu Kurmasheva and other prisoners in a multi-country exchange.[1][2][3][4]

Closed; Gershkovich was released in a prisoner exchange in August 2024.[4]

## What reason was given

The indictment accused Gershkovich of collecting "secret information" for the CIA on a Russian tank factory.[1]

## What changed for reporting

Gershkovich's arrest ended regular Western newspaper reporting from inside Russia by a staff correspondent for the duration of his imprisonment.[2]

## Timeline

- 2023-03-29: Russia: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years

## Who acted

| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Vladimir Putin](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/vladimir-putin) | other | President of Russia |

## Outlets and journalists

| Name | Kind | Relation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty](https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/radio-free-europe-radio-liberty) | outlet | affected |
| [The Wall Street Journal](https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/wall-street-journal) | outlet | affected |
| [Alsu Kurmasheva](https://thewaronnews.com/journalists/alsu-kurmasheva) | journalist, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | affected |
| [Evan Gershkovich](https://thewaronnews.com/journalists/evan-gershkovich) | journalist, The Wall Street Journal | affected |

## Sources

1. Russian authorities jail US journalist Evan Gershkovich for 16 years. https://cpj.org/2024/07/russian-authorities-jail-us-journalist-evan-gershkovich-for-16-years/ (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-07-19).
2. CPJ welcomes return of Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, says Russia must stop stifling journalists. https://cpj.org/thetorch/2024/08/cpj-welcomes-return-of-gershkovich-kurmasheva-says-russia-must-stop-stifling-journalists/ (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-08-01).
3. Russian court jails US reporter Gershkovich for 16 years. https://www.reuters.com/world/russian-prosecutor-seeks-18-year-sentence-us-journalist-gershkovich-agencies-2024-07-19/ (Reuters, 2024-07-19).

## Claims cited

[1] CPJ's characterization of the conviction. Quote: "Russia's decision to jail Evan Gershkovich for 16 years on sham charges is outrageous," Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-07-19. Russian authorities jail US journalist Evan Gershkovich for 16 years. https://cpj.org/2024/07/russian-authorities-jail-us-journalist-evan-gershkovich-for-16-years/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/547, checked 2026-09-22.

[2] The employer's response, noting his time in detention. Quote: "This disgraceful, sham conviction comes after Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully detained," Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-07-19. Russian authorities jail US journalist Evan Gershkovich for 16 years. https://cpj.org/2024/07/russian-authorities-jail-us-journalist-evan-gershkovich-for-16-years/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/548, checked 2026-09-22.

[3] The formal charge against Gershkovich. Quote: "collecting "secret information" for the CIA on a Russian tank factory" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-07-19. Russian authorities jail US journalist Evan Gershkovich for 16 years. https://cpj.org/2024/07/russian-authorities-jail-us-journalist-evan-gershkovich-for-16-years/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/663, checked 2026-09-22.

[4] Confirmation of the August 2024 release. Quote: "Evan and Alsu were detained and sentenced on spurious charges…" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-08-01. CPJ welcomes return of Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, says Russia must stop stifling journalists. https://cpj.org/thetorch/2024/08/cpj-welcomes-return-of-gershkovich-kurmasheva-says-russia-must-stop-stifling-journalists/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/664, checked 2026-09-22.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2024-russia-sentences-gershkovich. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.