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Russia's federal security service (FSB) arrested Gershkovich
last month on espionage charges widely decried as bogus by the
White House, other Western countries, the Wall Street Journal,
dozens of media organisations and human rights groups.
The United States' determination that he was "wrongfully
detained" means that it believes he was targeted primarily
because he is an American citizen, and its transfer of the case
from the State Department to the office of the Special Envoy for
Hostage Affairs raises the issue's political profile.
Asked about the U.S. move on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov repeated Russia's position that Gershkovich broke the
law.
"I don't understand what kind of innovations this new regime is
introducing. As for what it means, I don't know," Peskov said of
the designation. He said Gershkovich had "been caught red-handed
and violated the laws of the Russian Federation", before adding:
"This is what he's suspected of, but of course, the court will
make a decision".
More than 99% of criminal cases in Russia end in a conviction
for the prosecution and the country has long been criticised by
rights monitors for a lack of judicial independence.
Russia has presented no evidence to support the case against
Gershkovich, which is proceeding in secret because Russia says
the case materials are confidential.
Next week, a court will hear an appeal from Gershkovich's legal
team against an order that he be held in pre-trial detention at
Moscow's Lefortovo prison until May 29.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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