Evan Gershkovich Says He Was Lured Into a Russian Trap
Evan Gershkovich, the former Wall Street Journal correspondent based in Moscow, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that he felt he was being set up when masked men swept into a restaurant in Yekaterinburg and detained him in 2023. He described the moment as a trap and said he knew soon after the arrest that the prosecution was fabricated to use him as a political pawn.
The FSB – Russia’s domestic security agency – told Gershkovich he was being arrested on espionage charges. He was sentenced to 16 years in the infamous Lefortovo prison, yet was freed 16 months later as part of a high‑profile swap involving Russian spy Vadim Krasikov, who was serving a life sentence in Germany.
Gershkovich said the realisation that he was not being interrogated or tortured – typical tactics for spies – meant that the Russian authorities treated him as a bargaining chip, not a real threat. This insight helped him stay disciplined in prison, as he predicted a future swap and felt a release more likely than a decade‑long sentence.
While in Lefortovo, he described the isolation and psychological toll of sleeping in a tiny cell, but noted that he was allowed to eat well and get enough sleep. He highlighted that the Russian media presentation of him smiling in court was deliberate, a way to show he was okay even if the case was false.
After his release in August 2024, Gershkovich said the joy faded as he faced the reality of returning to normal life. He struggled with panic attacks, short temper, and long nights. He has sought therapy for post‑traumatic stress disorder and is working on a book about his ordeal. Despite the hardships, he remains hopeful about eventually returning to Russia, though he admits it depends on what happens after President Putin’s tenure.
His story underscores the broader geopolitical chess game between the United States and Russia, a game in which journalists and political prisoners often become unintended pawns.
