Sergej Lavrov claims they have reliable evidence against the spy-accused American journalist

Gershkovich, who is a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, appeared in court on Thursday for the second time in the spy case once morest him. The court session takes place behind closed doors in a courtroom in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. The court hearing was originally scheduled for mid-August, but has reportedly been accelerated following pressure from the American’s defenders.

The 32-year-old American was arrested last spring during a reporting trip, accused of having obtained classified information regarding the Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod.

During a press conference in the UN building in New York, the Russian foreign minister said that they have reliable evidence once morest the journalist accused of being a spy. He believes the case has nothing to do with attacks on journalism.

– I can assure you that we are in favor of journalism and freedom of expression, just as much as you are, Lavrov replied to one of the questions.

The Russian prosecutor’s office believes Gershkovich acted on behalf of the American intelligence organization CIA. He himself, his employer and the American authorities have denied this.

During the press conference, Lavrov blamed American journalists for delaying talks on a possible prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia, by publishing material on confidential negotiations, which are still ongoing.

Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison, but Russia has indicated it is open to a prisoner exchange following a conviction. The probability that the American journalist will be acquitted is rather low, 99 percent of defendants in Russian trials are convicted.