A Moscow court has ruled that Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, must remain in custody on espionage charges until at least late June, according to court officials.

The 32-year-old American journalist was apprehended in late March 2023 while conducting a reporting assignment and has spent close to a year behind bars. His detention has been extended until June 30.

Photographs from the courtroom, released by court authorities, depict Gershkovich, dressed in a black checkered shirt, smiling from the enclosed defendant’s box.

Both Gershkovich and his employer have vehemently denied the accusations, with the U.S. government asserting that he is being unlawfully detained, NBC News reported.

His arrest in the city of Yekaterinburg sent shockwaves through the journalistic community in Russia. Gershkovich is currently held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, known for its severe conditions.

Written by B.C. Begley