LET HIM GO Falsely jailed WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich has prison term extended again by Putin as he languishes in Russian jail
FALSELY jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich has had his detention extended once AGAIN after being locked up last year by Putin on bogus spy charges.
The 32-year-old innocent American will now remain in custody at a notorious Moscow jail until the end of March.
Gershkovich has already spent 303 long and painful days behind bars so far.
He was filmed today listening to the ruling at the closed-door hearing, standing in a glass court cage wearing a hooded top and light blue jeans.
Afterwards, he was pictured smiling defiantly a short time later as he walked towards a prison van to leave the court.
The Wall Street Journal reporter was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on trumped up charges of espionage.
Putin's spy service alleged that the reporter, acting on the instructions of the American side, collected secret information about the Russian military-industrial complex.
However, Russian officials have not yet provided any evidence to publicly back up their claims.
Both Gershkovich and the Journal vehemently deny the allegations, while Washington declares him wrongfully detained.
The 32-year-old has repeatedly launched appeals to secure his freedom - all have so far been rejected.
He is the first Western reporter to be jailed on espionage charges in Russia since the Soviet era, and he faces a prison term of up to 20 years if convicted.
During his end-of-year news conference in December, Putin said that Moscow is in "dialogue" with Washington on bringing home both Gershkovich and fellow jailed American Paul Whelan, a former marine.
It was a sign of fresh hope when the Russian despot announced that the Kremlin "hopes" to find a solution, although he stated it's not "easy".
Putin said: "We have contacts on this matter with our American partners, there's a dialogue on this issue.
"It's not easy, I won't go into details right now. But in general, it seems to me that were speaking a language each of us understands."
"I hope we will find a solution," he continued. "But, I repeat, the American side must hear us and make a decision that will satisfy the Russian side as well."
The Russian Foreign Ministry has said it will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial.
But the US has previously claimed that proposals have been rejected.
On October 26, Gershkovich spent his birthday behind bars as his sister called on the international community to demand his release.
"Every day that Evan is in prison is a day too long," Danielle Gershkovich said. "We want him home."
In November, he was once again denied his latest bid for freedom as he detention as he awaits trial was extended until the end of January.
Prior to this, a judge rejected his October appeal and he was ordered to remain in custody until at least the end of November.
But each time the extension is completed, Putin's cronies slap him with a further few months behind bars - trapping him in an unending legal web.
In Russia, espionage trials can last for more than a year.
Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be charged with espionage in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a correspondent in Moscow, was arrested by the KGB.
Gershkovich is being held at Moscow's Lefortovo prison, an infamously grim prison, known for holding Putin's political prisoners.
Analysts have said that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips after US-Russian tensions soared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
At least two American citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including basketball star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the US.
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