WALL Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has appealed a new custody ruling after being wrongfully caged for spy charges.
The 31-year-old is fighting a Moscow court judge’s decision to extend his pretrial detention by another three months.
Russia made the ruling to keep the US journalist, who was arrested on bogus spy charges, locked up until the end of November.
This extension date will see Evan behind bars for an additional three months, on top of the 152 days he has already suffered in the notorious Lefortovo prison.
The WSJ Moscow correspondent’s pretrial detention was originally supposed to expire on May 29 after appeals for his release were denied.
This was pushed back to August 30, and it has now been extended once again by Putin’s spooks.
The wrongful ruling was granted during a closed door hearing at a Moscow court on Thursday.
Evan was pictured handcuffed, wearing a chequered shirt and jeans as masked men led him into court.
By Moscow’s criminal law, the 31-year-old could face a pretrial extension of up to a year.
A spokesperson for Moscow’s Lefortovsky court said: “The time of detention has been extended by three months. Until November 30, 2023.”
Vladimir Putin‘s secret police wrongfully arrested the US citizen in March while he was reporting in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
He was falsely accused of espionage – Evan furiously denies the allegations, backed by the Wall Street Journal and President Biden.
In July, the United Stated admitted there was no clear “pathway” to bringing Evan home.
There has been no evidence presented by Russia to prove any allegations against the journalist.
A statement from the Wall Street Journal branded Moscow’s decision as “outrageous”.
It read: “Evan’s wrongful detention is outrageous and we continue to demand his immediate release.”
Previously the WSJ called the arrest “a vicious affront to a free press that should spur outrage in all free people and governments throughout the world”.
While adding: “No reporter should ever be detained for simply doing their job.”
Supporters of press freedom have also urged others to show their support for Evan by flooding social media with the message #IStandWithEvan.
