American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of espionage in a trial widely seen as politically motivated.

The Wall Street Journal reporter was first arrested and detained in March 2023 after Russia claimed he had been “gathering secret information” on orders from the CIA.

Russian prosecutors had alleged that he had gathered secret information on the orders of the CIA about a company that manufactures tanks for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Mr Gershkovich, 32, said the charges against him were false and his employer called the case a sham.

The authorities have not publicly disclosed any evidence to back up the accusations and the trial has been held behind closed doors.

Mr Gershkovich was the first US journalist arrested on spying charges in Russia since the Cold War.

While espionage cases often take months to handle, his trial took place across just three hearings. This has led to speculation that a long-discussed US-Russia prisoner exchange deal involving him and potentially other Americans detained in Russia could be in the works.

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When asked about the possibility of such an exchange, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to answer.

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Russian courts convict more than 99% of the defendants who come before them, and prosecutors can appeal sentences they regard as too lenient, and can even appeal acquittals.

“Evan’s wrongful detention has been an outrage since his unjust arrest 477 days ago, and it must end now,” the Journal said Thursday.

“Even as Russia orchestrates its shameful sham trial, we continue to do everything we can to push for Evan’s immediate release and to state unequivocally: Evan was doing his job as a journalist, and journalism is not a crime. Bring him home now.”

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