Before the court in Yekaterinburg, where the US journalist is accused of espionage, which he denies, reporters were given a limited opportunity to video the journalist.
In March 2023, the Wall Street Journal writer was initially taken into custody after Russia alleged that he had been “gathering secret information” under the CIA’s directives.
If found guilty, the 32-year-old reporter, who has already spent nearly 15 months in Moscow’s infamous Lefortovo jail, may spend an additional 20 years behind bars.
Over 99% of defendants in Russian courts are found guilty, and prosecutors have the option to challenge sentences they believe to be excessively light.
The prosecutor general’s office stated that the first information regarding the accusations against him surfaced last week. It was said that he was looking for information about Uralvagonzavod, a plant that manufactures and fixes military hardware.
The trial is scheduled to occur in private, as Russia claims is customary in instances involving espionage.
