Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's espionage trial in Russia begins

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich went on trial Wednesday in Russia on alleged espionage charges. 

He is the first U.S. journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War, according to CNN News.

The 32-year-old Gershkovich appeared in a Russian courtroom’s glass cage. 

He was arrested while reporting for the Journal just weeks before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The arrest occurred while Gershkovich was reporting in the city of Yekaterinburg, in March 2023. He was later accused of spying for the CIA. Gershkovich, his newspaper and the U.S. government have denied the charges.