The U.S. ambassador to Russia said that a decision on December 14 by the Moscow City Court to reject an appeal filed by Evan Gershkovich against the extension of his pretrial detention showed a "familiar routine" in Russia's handling of the espionage case against The Wall Street Journal reporter, which he and Washington refute.
The rejection of the appeal came on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin said there had been "dialogue" between U.S. and Russian officials over the release of Gershkovich and another American, Paul Whelan, who are being held on espionage charges that they deny.
Ambassador Lynne Tracy said in a statement after the ruling that the denial of the appeal, the fourth by the court, means that Gershkovich’s ordeal has stretched on for more than 250 days.
"Although Evan appeared as sharp and focused as ever today in the courtroom, it is unacceptable that Russian authorities have chosen to use him as a political pawn," Tracy said.
"As the holidays approach, our thoughts are with Evan and Paul Whelan, as well as their families, friends, and colleagues. Both of these men deserve to be at home with their families."
Tracy also repeated the U.S. government stance that the charges against Gershkovich and Whelan "are baseless" and that Washington "will continue to advocate for Evan’s immediate release, and the release of all wrongfully detained Americans overseas."
Putin said during his annual press conference and call-in event that a prisoner swap involving Gershkovich and/or Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran, is "a complicated one," but that he is hopeful an agreement can be reached
"A dialogue is under way. It is a complicated one. But the decision must be one that will mutually satisfy all sides," he said when asked about the two detainees.
The question, asked by a New York Times reporter, did not mention any other Americans currently being held by Russia, including veteran RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Gershkovich was detained in late March in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said at the time of his arrest that it had opened an espionage case against the reporter for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military-industrial complex at the behest of the U.S. government -- accusations The Wall Street Journal and the United States firmly rejected.
The Moscow City Court on December 14 rejected an appeal filed by Gershkovich against the extension in late November of his pretrial detention.
Whelan was arrested in 2018 and convicted in 2020 of espionage, which he and Washington deny. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and is currently incarcerated in a notorious Russian prison in Mordovia.
Whelan was head of global security at a U.S. auto-parts supplier when he was arrested. He and his relatives insist he visited Russia to attend a wedding.
Several Americans have been detained in Russia in recent years on charges that their families, supporters, and in some cases the U.S. government, have said are trumped-up.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on December 14 that the the United States has “put multiple offers on the table,” including a "significant offer" made a few weeks ago.
“We have seen those offers rejected every time by the Russian government,” he said.
Washington would welcome Russia engaging seriously in talks that would lead to the release of Gershkovich and Whelan, he said, adding that the United States hopes the Russian side "will change the way they handle this going forward.”
Putin declined to go into details, but said "in general, it seems to me that we speak a language that is understandable to each other."
He added that he hopes for a solution, "but, I repeat, the American side must hear us and make an appropriate decision, one that suits the Russian side."
Kurmasheva, a Prague, Czech Republic-based journalist with RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, has been held in Russian custody since October 18 on charge of violating the so-called "foreign agent" law's regulations. She was apprehended in Russia while there for a family emergency.
Russian media reported earlier this week that she is now accused also of distributing "fake" news about Russia's armed forces, a charge that comes with a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
RFE/RL has condemned the charges and says Kurmasheva is being "unjustly detained."