<div class="css-129jqss en4o1560"><section class="css-u7urgs e12sbwn90"><div class="css-b4a1pi e1u9wqfn0"><span class="css-x8vgju e6e0kfy0"><a href="/europe/" data-analytics="sidebar:section"><span>Europe</span></a></span><span class="css-rjcumh e1vi1cqp0"> | Hostage racket</span></div><h1 class="css-1p83fk8 e1r8fcie0">Russia sentences Evan Gershkovich to 16 years on bogus spying charges</h1><h2 class="css-1ms10sa eg03uz0">The Kremlin wants to barter the American reporter for its spies</h2></section></div><div class="css-vpmedt en4o1560"><section class="css-1ugvd2u e18wk22u0"></section></div><div class="css-129jqss en4o1560"><div class="css-13r0q4k ebbih0g0"><div class="css-f1to7x e1oehc1h0"><div class="css-jwv1ak eupm5sl0"><div class="css-w0h03k eygoqsu0"><div><time datetime="2024-07-19T18:09:30.019Z" class="css-1c8ktq7 e4cw3vv0"> Jul 19th 2024</time><span class="css-tmjz0q e1oehc1h1">|</span><span class="css-sy52uq e1q31umy0">Kyiv</span></div><div><div class="css-1902i5q eygoqsu0"></div></div></div></div></div><section data-body-id="cp2" class="css-k2wbwk e13topc91"><div class="css-1x0aq03 e13topc92"><p data-component="paragraph" class="css-1f0x4sl e1tt35bk0"><span data-caps="initial">T</span><small>HE INEVITABILITY</small> of the espionage verdict against <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/04/12/their-relatives-are-held-in-russian-prisons-now-theyre-helping-evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>, an American reporter, was never in doubt. Fully 99.85% of Russian trials end in conviction, and the Kremlin was not about to let this trumped-up affair prove an exception. The court sentenced Mr Gershkovich to 16 years of hard labour, just two years short of the prosecutors’ request. All eyes are on what happens next. The fact that the formal sentencing was brought forward by several weeks, at the insistence of Mr Gershkovich’s lawyers, suggested that a prisoner exchange may be in the offing.</p></div></section><div class="css-1cmx12d em0l2j50"><div class="css-19gx9y0 eupm5sl0"><div class="css-15sn8g1 eygoqsu0"><div><div class="css-9mn5vp eygoqsu0"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

<div class="css-mqgbir ea9fiz30"><div class="css-u2fvsz ei67dsy1"><div class="css-1gljmzf e188esf00"><div class="css-pdqis7 en4o1560"><div class="css-1b409a9 eis2tu50"><div class="css-1v8gmu2 e1jjvxhk0"><figure class="css-j0a8mg e1197rjj0"><img theme="[object Object]" alt="" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1440px) 700px, (min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 960px) 66vw, 95vw" srcset="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 256w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 360w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=384,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 384w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=480,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 480w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 600w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=834,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 834w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=960,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 960w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1096,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 1096w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1280,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 1280w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 1424w" src="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg"></figure></div><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-107bvwz e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/18/romania-is-now-a-magnet-for-the-worlds-medical-students" data-analytics="more_from:headline_1">Romania is now a magnet for the world’s medical students</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">But Romanian doctors are leaving</p></div></div></div><div class="css-12zrjtn en4o1560"><div class="css-wb96fl eis2tu50"><div class="css-1px0skd e1jjvxhk0"><figure class="css-j0a8mg e1197rjj0"><img theme="[object Object]" alt="" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1440px) 700px, (min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 960px) 66vw, 95vw" srcset="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 256w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 360w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=384,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 384w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=480,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 480w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 600w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=834,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 834w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=960,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 960w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1096,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 1096w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1280,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 1280w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 1424w" src="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg"></figure></div><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-1jzypbl e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/18/the-division-of-cyprus-looks-indefinite" data-analytics="more_from:headline_2">The division of Cyprus looks indefinite</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">The island’s Greeks and Turks seem contented, for the moment, to stay apart</p></div></div><hr class="css-16c9eiw e188esf01"><div class="css-wb96fl eis2tu50"><div class="css-1px0skd e1jjvxhk0"><figure class="css-j0a8mg e1197rjj0"><img theme="[object Object]" alt="" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1440px) 700px, (min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 960px) 66vw, 95vw" srcset="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 256w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 360w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=384,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 384w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=480,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 480w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 600w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=834,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 834w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=960,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 960w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1096,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 1096w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1280,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 1280w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 1424w" src="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg"></figure></div><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-1jzypbl e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/18/jd-vance-an-honorary-frenchman-sends-europe-into-panic-mode" data-analytics="more_from:headline_3">J.D. Vance, an honorary Frenchman, sends Europe into panic mode</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">Millennial, MAGA champion, hillbilly…Gaullist</p></div></div></div><hr class="css-670k81 e188esf01"></div></div></div>

<div class="css-mqgbir ea9fiz30"><div class="css-1epdrte ei67dsy1"><div class="css-10pit5x e188esf00"><div class="css-pdqis7 en4o1560"><div class="css-1b409a9 eis2tu50"><div class="css-1v8gmu2 e1jjvxhk0"><figure class="css-j0a8mg e1197rjj0"><img theme="[object Object]" alt="" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1440px) 700px, (min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 960px) 66vw, 95vw" srcset="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 256w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 360w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=384,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 384w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=480,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 480w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 600w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=834,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 834w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=960,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 960w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1096,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 1096w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1280,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 1280w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg 1424w" src="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP503.jpg"></figure></div><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-107bvwz e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/18/romania-is-now-a-magnet-for-the-worlds-medical-students" data-analytics="more_from:headline_1">Romania is now a magnet for the world’s medical students</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">But Romanian doctors are leaving</p></div></div></div><div class="css-12zrjtn en4o1560"><div class="css-wb96fl eis2tu50"><div class="css-1px0skd e1jjvxhk0"><figure class="css-j0a8mg e1197rjj0"><img theme="[object Object]" alt="" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1440px) 700px, (min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 960px) 66vw, 95vw" srcset="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 256w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 360w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=384,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 384w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=480,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 480w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 600w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=834,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 834w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=960,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 960w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1096,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 1096w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1280,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 1280w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg 1424w" src="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUP003.jpg"></figure></div><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-1jzypbl e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/18/the-division-of-cyprus-looks-indefinite" data-analytics="more_from:headline_2">The division of Cyprus looks indefinite</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">The island’s Greeks and Turks seem contented, for the moment, to stay apart</p></div></div><hr class="css-16c9eiw e188esf01"><div class="css-wb96fl eis2tu50"><div class="css-1px0skd e1jjvxhk0"><figure class="css-j0a8mg e1197rjj0"><img theme="[object Object]" alt="" loading="lazy" width="100%" height="auto" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" sizes="(min-width: 1440px) 700px, (min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 960px) 66vw, 95vw" srcset="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=256,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 256w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=360,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 360w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=384,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 384w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=480,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 480w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 600w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=834,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 834w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=960,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 960w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1096,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 1096w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1280,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 1280w, https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg 1424w" src="https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20240720_EUD000.jpg"></figure></div><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-1jzypbl e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/18/jd-vance-an-honorary-frenchman-sends-europe-into-panic-mode" data-analytics="more_from:headline_3">J.D. Vance, an honorary Frenchman, sends Europe into panic mode</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">Millennial, MAGA champion, hillbilly…Gaullist</p></div></div><hr class="css-16c9eiw e188esf01"><div class="css-1b409a9 eis2tu50"><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-93c3ik e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/16/russias-vast-stocks-of-soviet-era-weaponry-are-running-out" data-analytics="more_from:headline_4">Russia’s vast stocks of Soviet-era weaponry are running out</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">It may have to scale back its offensive in Ukraine</p></div></div></div><div class="css-1ls2jbk en4o1560"><div class="css-yuq3xx e188esf00"><div class="css-1smej6r en4o1560"><div class="css-1b409a9 eis2tu50"><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-93c3ik e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/15/half-ukraines-power-is-knocked-out-winter-is-coming" data-analytics="more_from:headline_5">Half Ukraine’s power is knocked out; winter is coming</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">Ingenuity can get you only so far</p></div></div></div><div class="css-1smej6r en4o1560"><div class="css-1b409a9 eis2tu50"><div class="css-0 e1ik1iw00"><h3 class="css-93c3ik e7j57mt0"><a href="/europe/2024/07/11/france-is-desperately-searching-for-a-government" data-analytics="more_from:headline_6">France is desperately searching for a government</a></h3><p class="css-llqkfq e7x1xmz0">Party rivalry threatens deadlock before compromise</p></div></div></div></div></div><hr class="css-1sczei4 e188esf01"><hr class="css-mmkuqe e188esf01"></div></div></div>

The Kremlin wants to barter the American reporter for its spies{ai:summary}<p>American hostage in Russia, Evan Gershkovich faces 16 years for false charges. Kremlin looks to exchange him for spies. #foreignaffairs</p>