A Russian court extends the pretrial detention for an American reporter accused of spying

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in the Russian capital has ruled to keep Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in custody pending his trial on espionage charges that he denies. The Moscow City Court rejected an appeal against Gershkovich’s detention filed by his lawyers, upholding a ruling to keep him behind bars until the end of March. The order means that Gershkovich will spend at least a year behind bars in Russia after his arrest in March 2023. Speaking in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is ready to negotiate a deal to exchange Gershkovich.