World reacts to Russia's sentencing of American journalist Evan Gershkovich | Russia-Ukraine War

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

A Russian court has convicted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage and sentenced the first American journalist charged with espionage since the Cold War to 16 years in prison.

Judge Andrei Mineyev said in a closed hearing on Friday that Gershkovich, 32, had been sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime colony.

Gershkovich was first arrested in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in March 2023. He has spent nearly 16 months in custody so far.

His employer criticised the decision as a shameful and fictitious conviction.

Evan spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully detained, away from family and friends, prevented from reporting, all for doing his job as a journalist, Wall Street Journal Publisher Almar Latour and Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker said in a statement.

Here are some international reactions to his conviction and sentence:

UNITED STATES

President Joe Biden said Washington was pushing for Gershkovich's release after his conviction was announced.

There is no doubt that Russia is wrongly detaining Evan. Journalism is not a crime, Biden said in a statement.

United Kingdom

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the decision to convict Gershkovich as contemptible.

The conviction of WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich is despicable and only underscores Russia's utter disregard for media freedom, Starmer wrote on X.

Journalism should not be considered a crime. Gershkovich must be released immediately.

Germany

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said journalism was not a crime and the truth could not be hidden.

Evans' conviction shows [Russian President Vladimir] Putin fears the force of facts. The verdict is politically motivated and part of Putin's war propaganda, Baerbock wrote on X.

European Union

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said the trial was the antithesis of justice.

A politically motivated and rigged trial. Journalism is not a crime. Evan must be released immediately, she posted on X.

Russia's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has accused Russia of using its politicized legal system to punish journalism.

EU calls to #FreeEvan and all other political prisoners, he wrote on X.

Reporters Without Borders

The group condemned the move, calling it state hostage-taking.

Targeting Gershkovich in this manner is another egregious example of unacceptable state hostage-taking by Russia, he said in a statement, calling the conviction outrageous.

AND

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Gershkovich's conviction raised serious concerns.

Journalists should be able to carry out their essential professional functions in a safe environment without fear of reprisals, in line with Russia's international human rights obligations, he said in a statement.

We call for the release of all journalists in Russia detained solely for doing their job, he added.

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