The American journalist Evan Gershkovich, accused of spying by Russia, was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg 

The authorities took him to court and the federal security service accused him of “acting on instructions from the American side to collect information about the activities of one of the end reprises of the Russian military industrial complex that constitutes a state secret.”

Lawyers of the Wall Street Journal said they were doing “everything in our power to support Evan and his family”. His case is now handled by the US special envoy for hostage affairs.

The Kremlin has said that Evan Gershkovich was carrying out espionnage under cover of journalism. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian minister of foreign affairs, has told the United States that Evan was caught while trying to obtain secrets.

Gershkovich may be kept in Lefortovo prison while the case is being invistigated and the court is hearing to let him in prison as he awaits the trial.

The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, visited Evan and she said, “he feels well and he is holding up. We reiterate our call of Evan’s immediate release.”