Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to remain in Russian jail until at least late August

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain jailed on espionage charges until at least late August after a Moscow court on Thursday rejected the U.S. journalist's appeal for release.

Gershkovich, 31, was arrested in March. A Moscow court ordered him last month to remain in jail until Aug. 30, but his attorneys challenged the ruling. 

"Evan continued to show remarkable strength and resiliency in these very difficult circumstances," said U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy after she attended the hearing, according to The Associated Press.

Tracy also said she was "extremely disappointed" by the court's decision, and she reiterated that Gershkovich was "an innocent journalist" facing baseless charges.

"Such hostage diplomacy is unacceptable, and we call on the Russian Federation to release him," she also said. 

The U.S. government has said Gershkovich is wrongfully detained, and both the reporter and the Journal have denied the allegations.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.