A Russian court on Friday found a U.S journalist, Evan Gershkovich, guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in a maximum security colony.
Numerous Russian news agencies reported from the court in Yekaterinburg.
He was accused of gathering information on the Uralvagonzavod defence equipment factory in Nizhny Tagil on behalf of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Nizhny Tagil lies 130 kilometres to the north of Yekaterinburg.
Gershkovich was earlier arrested in March 2023. Like many Western journalists, he had worked and researched in Russia with accreditation from the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
In reaction, U.S. President Joe Biden, has sharply criticised the 16-year sentence for Gershkovich.
According to the president, Gershkovich was targeted by Russia “because he is a journalist and an American.”
Biden, in a statement released by the White House, said the reporter had “committed no crime,”
He added that the U.S. government will continue to fight for the Wall Street Journal reporter’s release as well as for all U.S. citizens unlawfully detained abroad.
“Journalism is not a crime,” Biden said, adding that both he and the United Nations have said that Russia is wrongfully detaining the reporter.
“We will continue to stand strong for press freedom in Russia and worldwide, and stand against all those who seek to attack the press or target journalists,” the U.S. president added. (dpa/NAN)