The closed-door trial of American Jewish reporter Evan Gershkovich began in Russia on Wednesday, 15 months after his arrest on widely discredited espionage charges.

The trial takes place in Yekaterinburg, where Gershkovich, now 32, was arrested while reporting for the Wall Street Journal in March 2023. He was held in Moscow before being moved for the trial. He appeared in court with his head shaven, as is customary in Russia.

Jewish activists and organizations have supported Gershkovich since his arrest. On Passover in 2023, seder tables worldwide included an empty seat for him to symbolize his imprisonment. Jewish Federations led a letter-writing campaign over Rosh Hashanah that year.

Gershkovich, his employer, and the United States all deny that he is a spy. U.S. authorities have been working to secure his release. He is the first American reporter since the Cold War to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia.

U.S. Denies Espionage Claims

“Evan has never been employed by the United States government,” said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, according to the Wall Street Journal. “Evan is not a spy. Journalism is not a crime, and Evan should never have been tried in the first place.”

Earlier this month, Russian investigators claimed they had evidence that Gershkovich was in Yekaterinburg on behalf of the CIA to gather information on Russian arms manufacturer Uralvagonzavod, which produces tanks and other weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine. They have shared no evidence supporting their claims, and the trial is not open to the public.

“His case is not about evidence, procedural norms, or the rule of law,” the U.S. Embassy in Russia said in a statement published Wednesday. “It is about the Kremlin using American citizens to achieve its political objectives.”

Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 13.