Political Prisoner Record

Russian Federation

Evan Gershkovich: UN Working Group opinion and current status

UN Working Group on Arbitrary DetentionOpinion No. 11/2024, adopted 20 March 2024

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that his detention "is arbitrary and falls within categories I, II, III and V". It requested his immediate release, an enforceable right to compensation, an independent investigation and amendment of article 276 of the Criminal Code.1

Category ICategory IICategory IIICategory V

Read the opinion

Government position

According to the opinion, the Working Group did not receive a response from the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government did not request an extension.1

Background

According to the opinion, Mr. Gershkovich, a United States national and Wall Street Journal correspondent, was arrested by the Federal Security Service in Yekaterinburg on 29 March 2023 and held in Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. Russian authorities accused him of espionage under article 276 of the Criminal Code, which the source disputed. Reuters reported that he was sentenced on 19 July 2024, before the exchange.1,2

Status now

Released on 1 August 2024 in a multi-country prisoner exchange carried out in Ankara and coordinated by Turkey, per Reuters and CNN.2,3

As of 1 August 2024.

Findings on this site are those of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent body of experts. Its opinions are not court judgments. Each record includes the government's position where it gave one.

Sources

  1. UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Opinion No. 11/2024 concerning Evan Gershkovich (Russian Federation), A/HRC/WGAD/2024/11 (20 March 2024)
  2. Reuters (via Daily Maverick), Americans freed alongside Russian assassin in biggest post-Cold War prisoner swap (1 August 2024)
  3. CNN (via ABC7, CNNWire), Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan freed from Russia in historic multi-country prisoner swap (1 August 2024)