Evan Gershkovich: Russia don jail American journalist on top accuse of espionage

One Russian court don send US journalist Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison on top accuse say im na spy.

Dem tok say Gershkovich dey work for di Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but both im and im employer, The Wall Street Journal, deny di allegation.

Russian security operatives bin arrest Gershkovich last March wen e go to report for di city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,600km from Moscow.

Dis na di first conviction of a US journalist on top spying mata since di Cold War end for 1991.

Both sides for di trial get 15 days to appeal against di verdict, di judge tok.

“Dis disgraceful, sham conviction dey happen afta Evan don already spend 478 days for prison, wrongfully detained, away from im family and friends, prevented from reporting, all for doing im work as a journalist,” Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour and Editor in Chief Emma Tucker tok for inside one statement.

“We go continue to do everything possible to press for Evan release and to support im family.

“Journalism no be crime, and we no go rest until dem release am. Dis gatz end now.”

Western politicians also don condemn di verdict kpatakpata.

US President Joe Biden tok say Gershkovich "no commit any crime but na target Russian goment target am sake of say im na journalist and American".

"Evan don endure im ordeal wit remarkable strength.

"Journalism no be crime. We go continue to stand strong for press freedom in Russia and worldwide, and stand against all di pipo wey dey seek to attack di press or target journalists," oga Biden tok.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tok say Russia dey punish journalism wit dia "politicised legal system", and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer describe di sentence as "despicable".

Washington don accuse Russia of holding Gershkovich as a bargaining chip, wey dem go use for a possible prisoner swap wit Russian citizens wey dey prison for oda kontris.

But Moscow sabi say di US dey ready to make swaps in order to release dia citizens, and di two kontris bin don dey discuss such swap.

Some sabi pipo dey tok say di fast-fast conviction fit mean say exchange like dat dey very close.

According to Russian law system, bifor exchange of prisoners go happen, e suppose be for pesin wey get verdict on top im head.

For February, Russian President Vladimir Putin bin hint at possible prisoner exchange for one interview wit US journalist Tucker Carlson.

Dat time pipo bin tink say e dey tok about Vadim Krasikov, one Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) hitman wey dey serve life sentence for Germany for shooting one former Chechen rebel commander for Berlin.

Gershkovich trial bin start last month and di hearing wey lead to di conviction bin suppose hold for August, but dem suddenly bring am forward to Thursday and di court tok say dem go deliver verdict on Friday.

Di prosecutors allege say Gershkovich bin dey act "under di instructions of di CIA" to collect "secret information" about one factory wey dey di Sverdlovsk region wey dey produce tanks.

Di 32 year-old reporter don deny di allegation many times.

Plenty oda high-profile US citizens - including Paul Whelan - still dey detained for Russian prisons.

Dem detain Whelan for 2018 and accuse am of espionage.

For im statement on Thursday, Oga Biden tok say e "no get any higher priority wey pass to look for di release and safe return of Evan, Paul Whelan and all Americans wey dey wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad".