American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, will remain in Russian custody until at least the end of August after his appeal against detention was rejected. Gershkovich was arrested in late March while reporting in Russia and faces espionage charges, which both he and the Wall Street Journal firmly deny. The U.S. government has declared his detention wrongful and is demanding his release.

Gershkovich's arrest occurred on March 29th in Yekaterinburg, where Russian authorities accused him of attempting to acquire classified information related to the Russian military-industrial complex. Despite previously accrediting him as a journalist, the Russian Foreign Ministry continues to hold him. The Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich's colleagues have consistently maintained his innocence and spoken out in support of his journalistic integrity.

Prior to his work at the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich also contributed to Agence France-Presse, The Moscow Times, and served as a news assistant at The New York Times. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years imprisonment under Russian law.

In response to the detainment, the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions against Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in April.