The trial of Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich on bogus charges of espionage was scheduled to resume in mid-August. But the Russian court in Yekaterinburg granted his attorneys’ petition to move the hearing forward, and it will now take place today, July 18th. Taking into account the time difference (I am on the U.S. east coast), it has probably already begun.

The trial, as is customary in these cases, is being held behind closed doors. There is little chance that Evan Gershkovich will receive anything but a guilty verdict, and — barring a miracle — we will simply have to await word as to the length of his sentence.

And so the travesty that passes for law and justice in Russia continues. But so do our efforts to find a means to bring our hostages home.

To be continued . . .

Brendochka
7/18/24