YEKATERINBURG, Russia—Russian prosecutors sought a prison sentence of 18 years on Friday for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is on trial on espionage charges that his employer and the U.S. have denounced as fabricated.
Mr. Gershkovich, 32, was arrested March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Authorities said that he was gathering secret information for the U.S. He pleaded not guilty, according to the court.
Mr. Gershkovich appeared in court for a second straight day Friday. A verdict is expected later in the day, according to court officials.
Unlike previous sessions in which reporters were allowed to see Mr. Gershkovich briefly before sessions began, there was no access to the courtroom this week and he was not seen. Espionage and treason cases are typically shrouded in secrecy.
Court officials said the prosecutors requested an 18-year sentence in a high-security prison during closing arguments.
The U.S. State Department has declared Mr. Gershkovich “wrongfully detained,” committing the government to assertively seek his release.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday at the United Nations that Moscow and Washington’s “special services” are discussing an exchange involving Mr. Gershkovich. Russia has previously signaled the possibility of a swap, but it says a verdict would have to come first. Even after a verdict, any such deal could take months or years.
State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel on Thursday declined to discuss negotiations about a possible exchange, but said: “We have been clear from the get-go that Evan did nothing wrong and should not have been detained. To date, Russia has provided no evidence of a crime and has failed to justify Evan’s continued detention.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted earlier this year that he would be open to swapping Mr. Gershkovich for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian serving a life sentence for the 2019 killing in Berlin of a Georgian citizen of Chechen descent.
Mr. Gershkovich’s trial began June 26 in Yekaterinburg after he spent about 15 months in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison.
The Russian Prosecutor General’s office said last month the journalist is accused of “gathering secret information” on orders from the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a plant about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of Yekaterinburg that produces and repairs tanks and other military equipment.
Mr. Lavrov on Wednesday reaffirmed the Kremlin claim that the government has “irrefutable evidence” against Mr. Gershkovich.
Mr. Gershkovich’s employer and U.S. officials have dismissed the charges.
Russia’s interpretation of what constitutes high crimes like espionage and treason is broad.
Nine U.S. citizens known to be detained in Russia as tensions between the two countries have escalated over fighting in Ukraine.
