Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter detained on an espionage charge in Russia since March, will remain in jail until at least Nov. 30. This is an additional three-month extension from the last extension.

Evan has been held for more than five months. On July 4, it was reported that Russia and the United States were discussing a potential prisoner swap. No such swap has been finalized as far as public knowledge goes. On June 13, the U.S. House unanimously voted for Russia to free Gershkovich. That vote was a unified show of support from the United States but held no sway over Russian officials. On June 22, the Russian court rejected Evan’s appeal for release. He has remained in custody pending his trial.

A closed hearing was held at Lefortovo District Court where a judge granted the request of investigators from the Federal Security Service (FSB) that Evan remain in prison as he awaits trial on November 30. All hearings are closed in Russia when the charge is espionage. No media is allowed inside the courtroom.

Evan Gershkovich is a 31-year-old American who was detained by FSB agents while he was on a reporting assignment in the city of Yekaterinburg on March 29. The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. government, and Evan all deny that he is a spy. By denying his pre-trial release, Thursday’s extension means Evan will spend at least eight months in prison before his trial begins.

Evan may receive another extension in his pre-trial detention. It was set to expire on May 29, then it was extended to August 30, now November 30. In some criminal cases, pre-trial detention can be extended for up to 12 months. Russia’s Criminal Procedure Code states that the court can grant further extensions in exceptional circumstances. He can be kept in prison for longer than a year while prosecutors and investigators put their case together. The FSB has not provided any evidence that Evan was collecting state secrets as a spy for the U.S. government.

The Wall Street Journal released a statement.

In a statement, the Journal said, “Today, our colleague and distinguished journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared for a pre-trial hearing where his improper detention was extended yet again. We are deeply disappointed he continues to be arbitrarily and wrongfully detained for doing his job as a journalist. The baseless accusations against him are categorically false, and we continue to push for his immediate release. Journalism is not a crime.”

Evan is the first American journalist arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the end of the Cold War. The State Department has deemed him wrongfully detained. This distinction allows a broad U.S. government response to exert pressure on Russia for his release.

Just two weeks ago, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, was allowed to visit Evan in Lefortovo. It was her third visit with Evan since he was detained. However, the Russians have denied many U.S. requests for consular access to Evan.

Allegedly, the Biden administration places a top priority on securing Evan’s release. Biden said in July that the United States is “serious about a prisoner exchange” to get his release. The White House warns that talks have not yielded a pathway to a resolution for Evan or for other Americans designated as wrongfully detained in Russia. In other words, don’t get your hopes up yet. There is no real progress.

The White House also specifically mentions another detained American in Russia, Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison when it speaks about prisoner swaps and releases. At the time of WNBA player Brittney Griner’s prison swap and her release, it was reported that Paul Whelan may be a part of that swap. That didn’t happen.

Evan may not be released before the 2024 presidential election.

Some U.S. officials say they think Russian President Vladimir Putin would be more likely to consider a swap for Gershkovich only after the U.S. presidential election in November 2024.

“The other challenge is Putin saving face, Putin looking powerful,” Schneider said. Any exchange “will have to make Putin look good. There’s no way he’s going to release an American without him looking good, however, he defines that,” she added.

If Trump is elected as president again, it will be interesting to see if he still commands fear and respect overseas. Would a new president spur Putin to release Evan and hopefully Paul Whelan, too?