A Moscow court ruled on Friday to extend the detention of imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by two months. Gershkovich, a US citizen, has been detained in Moscow since March 29, 2023 on espionage charges. This is the fourth extension of his sentence. He will now spend more than a year behind bars before the trial begins.

Russia has accused Gershkovich of involvement in espionage against the Russian government. The US Department of State has said Gershkovich is wrongfully detained and reaffirmed the department is actively working towards securing his release. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said that the US government is looking for the right way to free him. So far, the US’s efforts to secure Gershkovich’s release have been unsuccessful.

Russia also currently holds corporate-security executive Paul Whelan and Radio Free Europe reporter Alsu Kurmasheva on related charges. Russian authorities arrested and convicted Whelan in 2020 on espionage charges. He is now serving out a 16 year sentence in a Russian penal colony. Like Gershkovich, the US government has determined Whelan is wrongfully detained and is also working to secure his release, along with Kurmasheva.

The US embassy stated that during visits with Gershkovich, he remains resilient. The Wall Street Journal continues to strongly condemn the extension of Gershkovich’s sentence.