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Evan Gershkovich details FSB sting that led to 2023 arrest in Russia

The Wall Street Journal reporter's new book excerpt describes an elaborate trap by Russia's security service.

newest coverage 23h agosummary written 9h ago6 pieces NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Gershkovich, freed in August 2024 after 16 months in Russian detention, describes his arrest as a carefully orchestrated FSB sting designed to entrap him during a reporting trip on Russian military production.
  • The arrest violated what Gershkovich believed was an unspoken rule protecting foreign correspondents from detention in Russia, and he learned post-release that the FSB had backup plans to arrest him elsewhere if the initial operation failed.
  • Putin claimed in February 2024 that Gershkovich was "caught red-handed" collecting classified information; Gershkovich, his newspaper, and the US government all deny he was a spy.

“The men quickly descended on us. An arm was yanking my neck, pulling me off the couch... Someone shouted: 'You are under arrest by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.'”

Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal reporter · Straits Times, Moscow Times, Jerusalem Post ↗ · Sep 24

Evan Gershkovich Wall Street Journal reporterVladimir PutinVladimir Putin Russian PresidentFSB Russian Federal Security Service

Evan Gershkovich details FSB sting that led to 2023 arrest in Russia
Straits Times

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. 2

    Gershkovich reveals FSB had backup plan to arrest him in Siberia

    Since his release, Gershkovich learned that the FSB had a contingency plan to arrest him on another planned reporting trip to Siberia if the Yekaterinburg operation had failed. He believes the two meetings with the source were designed to convince Putin he was a spy and secure approval for the arrest.

    “Reeling with shock, he was handcuffed, had a black sack placed over his head and was whisked into a van where he was placed in a chokehold and punched in the abdomen while being questioned.”
    — Evan Gershkovich
    • rvps2001@mastodon.social

      💬 US reporter Evan Gershkovich, in his first detailed published account of his arrest in # Russia in 2023, says he was the victim of an elaborate sting operation by the FSB security ‌service. https://www. reuters.com/business/media-tel ecom/evan-gershkovich-says-his-arrest-russia-was-carefully-planned-fsb-sting-2026-09-25/

      rvps2001@mastodon.socialMastodon1d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 1

    Gershkovich publishes detailed account of arrest as elaborate FSB sting

    In an extract from his book "This Cursed Beautiful Land" published by the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich describes being the victim of an elaborate sting operation by the FSB. He recounts being arrested by masked men at a steakhouse while taking notes from documents a source had brought, contrary to pre-planned safety protocols.

    “A pang of guilt ripped through me: Had I compromised a source? But panic immediately replaced that thought. Instinct took over, my hands moving to hide the papers in the gap between the bench and the wall.”
    — Evan Gershkovich
    1. 3 outlets Evan Gershkovich says his arrest in Russia was carefully planned FSB sting

      first by Jerusalem Post, 23h ago · also Moscow Times EN, Straits Times

    2. 1 outlet US reporter Evan Gershkovich says his arrest in Russia was carefully planned FSB sting

      first by Straits Times, 1d ago

  3. background

    Gershkovich freed in East-West prisoner swap — After being sentenced to 16 years in prison, Gershkovich was released in an August 2024 prisoner exchange between the US and Russia.

  4. background

    Putin tells Tucker Carlson that Gershkovich was 'caught red-handed' — In a February 2024 interview with US television host Tucker Carlson, Putin claimed Gershkovich had been "caught red-handed" while collecting confidential information.

  5. background

    Evan Gershkovich arrested in Yekaterinburg on espionage charges — The Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested at a steakhouse while meeting a source about Russian military production. He became the first US reporter arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War.