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Gershkovich Says FSB Sting Led to Russia Arrest

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 4:35 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich says an FSB sting led to his arrest in Russia.
He met the Yekaterinburg union boss twice, receiving tank production tables despite planning the source not to bring documents.
He hid the papers behind a bench before FSB agents seized him when masked men arrived.
He became the first U.S. journalist charged with espionage since the Cold War, sentenced to 16 years, freed in August 2024.

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Story summary

U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich says an FSB sting led to his arrest in Russia.
He met the Yekaterinburg union boss twice, receiving tank production tables despite planning the source not to bring documents.
He hid the papers behind a bench before FSB agents seized him when masked men arrived.
He became the first U.S. journalist charged with espionage since the Cold War, sentenced to 16 years, freed in August 2024.