US journalist on trial for espionage in Russia, with conviction all but certain

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich faces espionage charges (AP)

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has gone on trial on espionage charges in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, 15 months after he was initially arrested there.

The 32-year-old appeared in a glass cage in the courtroom for a behind-closed-doors hearing on Wednesday morning, with his head shaven clean and wearing a black-and-blue plaid shirt.