The family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was recently detained in Russia, can expect a “long, drawn-out trial” before he even faces trial, in line with the brother of an American who’s being held in almost the identical circumstances.
Paul Whelan, now 53, was arrested in Moscow in 2018 while traveling to a wedding.
Corporate Security Director and Marine Corps. a veteran from Michigan was charged with espionage.
A Russian court sentenced him in June 2020 to 16 years in prison.
Whelan’s last 4 years give the Gershkovich family perhaps the closest blueprint of what they and the reporter might endure as well.
Gershkovich was arrested on March 29 while reporting from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
He was arrested on suspicion of espionage.
Talking to The Post, Whelan’s brother David said Paul’s allegations were “equivalent” to those against Gershkovich.
![Paul Whelan hears his verdict in the courtroom of the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia, June 15, 2020.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000003808077-edited.jpg)
Despite the circumstances that led to their accusations, “they’re essentially the identical: they’re made-up accusations of espionage based on paranoia, not reality,” David Whelan said over the phone.
Gershkovich, a 31-year-old US citizen whose parents fled the Soviet Union, faces as much as 20 years in prison in Russia if convicted.
“They simply happened to be the improper person on the improper time.”
David Whelan
![Ewan Gerszkowicz](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009160100-1-edited.jpg)
Whelan pointed to the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure, which “really documents the whole lot that happens right down to the small print.”
First, Gershkovich may have a hearing on May 29, roughly eight weeks after his arrest, Whelan said. But Gershkovich’s family shouldn’t expect to listen to in regards to the merits of the allegations or evidence against him.
As an alternative, they need to schedule hearings – which is able to likely happen “every eight to 12 weeks” – will almost certainly be “just a discussion of whether Mr.
He described “this cycle that is going to begin happening that does not really result in anything apart from a process,” which is prone to happen in 12 to 18 months, Whelan said.
“It should be a long, drawn-out process with a lot of additional court theater that will not even have any impact or give it a likelihood to drag itself out of the inevitable end result.”
![David Whelan at his home in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada on January 5, 2019.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009261394-edited.jpg)
This end result, Whelan said, would “almost actually” be a conviction, Whelan predicted.
Whelan said the news of Gershkovich’s arrest brought back his family’s memories of his brother’s first week in Russian custody.
“You begin to appreciate that everyone seems to be following the identical path – as an alternative of specializing in the enemy, the Kremlin, people start talking in regards to the one that is involved.
“And it really has nothing to do with the person. They simply happened to be the improper person on the improper time.”
![Daniil Berman, attorney for Evan Gershkovich, speaks to reporters in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 30, 2023.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000008981053-2.jpg?w=1024)
He added: “It’s a really terrible thing for any family.”
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke about Gershkovich and Whelan Wednesday morning in Brussels.
He said the US State Department sees “no higher priority than the protection of Americans all over the world, including those that may be unlawfully detained, held hostage or otherwise prevented from returning home and being with their families.”
Blinken said his agency was working “by establishing illegal detention” of Gershkovich and was “deliberately but swiftly” conducting a trial.
![Paul Whelan attends a hearing related to his arrest at the Lefortovo District Court in Moscow, Russia, February 22, 2019.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000003808023-1.jpg?w=1024)
The “illegal detention” classification would allow more resources to be allocated to the Gershkovich case through the Office of the President’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs on the State Department.
“In my view, there isn’t any doubt that he’s being unjustly detained by Russia. That is exactly what I said to the foreign minister [Sergey] Lavrov once I spoke to him over the weekend and insisted on Evan’s immediate release.
The USA officially recognized Whelan as a wrongful prisoner.
![Lefortovo detention center in Moscow, Russia.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NYPICHPDPICT000009216580-1.jpg?w=1024)
Blinken said a “proposal” related to Whelan’s release “has been on the table for several months.”
“Once more, I reiterated with Foreign Minister Lavrov that Russia should accept this proposal in order that we are able to bring Paul home,” Blinken said.
David Whelan recalls how his brother was “left behind” when two American prisoners – Trevor Reed and WNBA player Britney Griner – were released in recent months.
“Now that Mr. Gershkovich’s case is absolutely equivalent to Paul’s – same charges, same likelihood of a long sentence, all of the pitfalls are the identical – I believe I might be very concerned if the funds were used to bring him in before they were used to bring him in Paul home.”
He added: “I hope they are going to allow Paul to return home, and maybe each Paul and Mr. Gershkovich similtaneously funds can be found.”