Russia ‘formally charges Wall Street Journal reporter with espionage’

FILE – The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich is shown in this undated photo. The U.S. Senate’s top two leaders, in a rare bipartisan statement, demanded on Friday that Russia immediately release Evan Gershkovich, condemning the detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter and declaring that “journalism is not a crime.” (The Wall Street Journal via AP, File)

Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered his official denial, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

The agency said a law enforcement source informed the news agency that the Federal Security Service officially charged the American journalist with espionage.