Evan Gershkovich details Russian arrest, reveals moment that nearly broke him during wrongful detention

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, freed in a major prisoner swap in 2024 after more than a year detained in Russia, described his arrest and a near-breaking moment during an interview with Fox & Friends. Gershkovich, 34, said he and a colleague were reporting on how Russia was preparing its defenses and had believed a source they met during a trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg was legitimate. Instead, he said the meeting was a setup: he was taken from custody with a hood, his midsection was pummeled, and interrogators asked who he worked for—then he realized they were accusing him of espionage. He noted the source stepping away indicated it was planned, likely for a swap. Gershkovich was arrested March 29, 2023, accused of espionage; the Biden administration and the Journal denied the charge. After delays, he was convicted in 2024 in a closed court and sentenced to 16 years.