Evan Gershkovich

Evan Gershkovich is a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal known for his reporting on Russian affairs and international journalism. A graduate of Bowdoin College, where he studied philosophy and English and contributed to student newspapers, Gershkovich developed his expertise through roles with Agence France-Presse and Moscow Times, reporting from Moscow prior to joining The Wall Street Journal. His fluency in Russian and understanding of the region have informed his coverage of geopolitical developments and Russian society. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Economist, and Foreign Policy.

Gershkovich covered Russia during a period of heightened conflict, reporting on topics such as the Kremlin’s leadership, the Wagner Group, and the country’s shift to a wartime economy. He held full press credentials from Russia’s foreign ministry during his assignments.

Gershkovich was detained by Russia’s Federal Security Service on charges of espionage, becoming the first journalist working for an American outlet to be arrested on such charges in Russia since the Cold War. He was arrested while reporting in Yekaterinburg, and his trial was conducted in secret, with Russian authorities not publicly presenting evidence. Russian prosecutors accused him of gathering information on military equipment for the CIA, a claim denied by his newspaper. He was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum security prison after being found guilty of espionage, a case condemned by his employer and the U.S. government. During his imprisonment, Gershkovich maintained correspondence with the outside world, often requesting news from friends and colleagues.

He was released as part of a major East-West prisoner exchange, which also included U.S. citizens Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva. Following his release, Gershkovich participated in a Department of Defense program to assist former hostages in readjusting to daily life. He received a Free Expression Award from Freedom Forum and was recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist as part of an investigative team for The Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich is also a recipient of a MacDowell Fellowship.

Gershkovich documented his experiences in a journal during his imprisonment, which serves as the basis for his memoir, "This Cursed Beautiful Land: A Russian-American Story." The book details his time in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. Film rights to the memoir were acquired by Amazon MGM Studios, United Artists, and Scott Stuber, with director Edward Berger attached to the project. Gershkovich’s case continues to highlight issues of press freedom, journalist safety, and free speech advocacy in international reporting.