The detention of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the U.S. edition of the Wall Street Journal, occurred in Yekaterinburg. The security service alleges that the journalist gathered information on a Russian military-industrial enterprise that, under directions from the United States, is treated as a state secret. A case of espionage has been opened under Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The FSB described the suspect as Evan Gershkovich, born in 1991, a correspondent for the Moscow bureau of the Wall Street Journal, accredited with the Russian Foreign Ministry, who allegedly acted illegally in the interests of the American government. Security officials claimed he was caught attempting to obtain classified information.
According to Kommersant, the journalist is expected to be transferred to Moscow and detained at Lefortovo court. The case is being handled by the FSB leadership, and Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison.
In its March 29 edition, Evenings Newspaper reported that near Bukowski Grill on Karl Liebknecht Street in Yekaterinburg, security personnel removed a man in a sweater and placed him on a city minibus.
The publication noted that the prisoner’s face was obscured by a hood while passersby watched. That same evening, the journalist last online activity appeared at 13:28 Moscow time on March 29.
Detention day
The disappearance of Gershkovich on the morning of March 30 was recounted by Yaroslav Shirshikov, a local public figure involved in Yekaterinburg communications, who spoke with the reporter shortly before. He indicated that the journalist had discussed topics around two weeks prior.
Officials described the case as largely tied to Gershkovich’s interest in society’s stance toward PMC Wagner. In an interview with socialbites.ca, Shirshikov noted that editorial management had already addressed the arrest with reporters abroad.
The public relations representative said the newsroom had contacted him from London rather than New York. He stated that defenders would be sent and that cooperation would proceed through diplomatic channels. He also highlighted that the reporting in Yekaterinburg touched on opinions about the founder of PMC Wagner and the organization as a whole.
Further remarks from the PR official indicated that Gershkovich’s visit to Yekaterinburg involved discussions with regional figures about attitudes toward Wagner and related industrial concerns. The journalist reportedly left for Moscow after the interview and returned briefly to gather more material, then disappeared during a planned return trip to Yekaterinburg.
A separate account described a late-night call from a London number stating that Gershkovich had returned to Yekaterinburg and stopped communicating.
Reaction from colleagues and officials
International media groups expressed concern. Reporters Without Borders labeled the arrest alarming and suggested it could be a retaliatory move linked to Gershkovich’s reporting on Wagner PMC’s activities.
WSJ colleagues conveyed deep worry for the reporter’s safety. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry asserted that Gershkovich’s work in Yekaterinburg did not pertain to journalism as such, arguing that foreign reporters sometimes veil non-journalistic actions behind journalistic credentials.
Russia’s spokespersons stressed that detention decisions belong to security services and that the situation is handled within those channels, noting nothing more beyond that is available publicly.
What Gershkovich was doing in Yekaterinburg
A deputy in the Sverdlovsk Legislative Assembly provided commentary indicating that the Wall Street Journal was exploring perspectives from individuals described as patriots. The journalist reportedly asked about public support for military actions, artillery transfers to the front, and the activities of Wagner PMC, along with broader industrial questions.
The deputy described a cordial exchange, mentioning shared moments and a toast, which later became a point of discussion about the risks taken by Gershkovich in gathering sensitive information. Other observers noted that the American reporter may have visited several cities in the Sverdlovsk region, including areas housing defense-related enterprises.
Sources also indicated Gershkovich had spent substantial time in Moscow before and after his Yekaterinburg assignment, with ongoing reporting tied to events in Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet states. Background notes mention his family’s emigration from the USSR to the United States in 1979, and prior experience with influential outlets, including Agence France-Presse and The New York Times, before joining the Wall Street Journal. The most recent WSJ piece from Gershkovich appeared close to the time of these events.