WSJ Editor Predicts ‘Bogus Conviction’ In Open Letter On First Day Of Reporter’s Espionage Trial In Russia

(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

Wall Street Journal Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker condemned the “pretrial detention” and “bogus accusations” of espionage faced by the outlet’s reporter Evan Gershkovich, as the first day of his trial in Russia begins.

In an open letter to readers, Tucker predicted that the trial “will inevitably lead to a bogus conviction for an innocent man” in what she slammed as the “a travesty of justice that already has gone on for far too long.”

Gershkovich has been in detention in Russia for around 15 months after he was arrested by security services and accused of being a spy – a charge denied by the journalist, the WSJ, and the U.S. government.

In her letter, published on Wednesday, Tucker continued: “To even call it a trial is unfair to Evan and a continuation of this travesty of justice that already has gone on for far too long.”

Russian prosecutors have referred his case to a trial court, but Tucker emphasized that proceedings will be held in secret, beginning at around 2 A.M. (ET), and would be devoid of a presumption of innocence or a search for truth.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller lambasted the charges as having “absolutely zero credibility,” insisting that “Evan has done nothing wrong. He should never have been arrested in the first place.” He added: “Journalism is not a crime.”

Tucker acknowledged the challenges the newsroom faced in reporting on the allegations against their colleague: “We pride ourselves on our impartial and accurate reporting that doesn’t take sides and avoids bias. Nor would we repeat baseless allegations that we know categorically to be untrue lest we amplify the slander against Evan.”

She added: “We will state the facts clearly as we know them… as we pledged earlier this year, we will continue to tell Evan’s story until he can tell his own.”