'I was lured into a trap': Evan Gershkovich on moment that led to 16 months in Russian jail
Journalist Evan Gershkovich recounts his 2023 arrest in Russia, describing how he was lured into a trap by FSB agents and falsely accused of espionage. After spending 16 months in prison, he was released as part of a high-profile international prisoner swap.
Why it matters
The case highlights the risks faced by foreign journalists in Russia and the use of individuals as political pawns in international diplomacy.
Figure caption, Watch: Evan Gershkovich describes the moment he was detained by masked men
US journalist Evan Gershkovich has said that he knew he was being set up by Russia when he was arrested by FSB agents and accused of being a spy.
In his first UK interview, Gershkovich told the BBC about the moment he realised he had been "lured into a trap" when masked men surrounded him at a restaurant in 2023, and detained him.
"I'm not interrogated, I'm not tortured… I'm accused of espionage," he said, describing a sense of relief: "They've set me up and fabricated this case so that I can be a valuable hostage - a pawn in a greater game".
Gershkovich, now 34, was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but freed 16 months later as part of a high-profile prisoner swap deal .
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