The American news outlet The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to a maximum security prison colony by the Sverdlovsk Regional Court.
It is emphasized that the defendant will serve his sentence for 16 years.
The court emphasized that Gershkovich is accused of espionage, as reported by RIA Novosti , citing a court ruling.
The procedure for announcing the verdict against the correspondent was carried out behind closed doors.
Guilt for a crime
The British Consul General in Yekaterinburg, Amir Kotecha, expressed a desire to attend the court hearing.
However, the diplomat was not allowed into the courtroom due to the closed nature of the trial.
Despite the verdict being announced, the defendant declared that he did not admit his guilt.
Investigative authorities had previously ruled that the Wall Street Journal journalist, while collaborating with the CIA, was collecting secret information about the activities of Uralvagonzavod in the Sverdlovsk region.
