Proceedings in the secret trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich are set to resume Thursday, almost a month earlier than originally scheduled after a request from his defense team, reports Georgi Kantchev of The Journal.
Kantchev reports, “The next hearing was initially set for Aug. 13 but the court’s website on Tuesday showed it had been brought forward to July 18. According to a spokeswoman for the court, the decision to advance the hearing date was made after a request from Gershkovich’s defense.
“‘This is a sham trial that should never have taken place, just as Evan never should have been arrested,’ the Journal said. ‘The sooner it’s over, the better.’
“A U.S. Embassy spokesperson in Moscow said it expects that Russian authorities will continue to provide consular access to Gershkovich.
“‘We have been clear from the start that Evan has done nothing wrong and never should have been arrested in the first place,’ the spokesperson said. ‘Journalism is not a crime.'”
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