Russian investigators have charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, the Interfax news agency reported, citing an unidentified source.
Russia's Federal Security Service, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said on March 30 that it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against the 31-year-old for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex.
"Gershkovich has been charged," Interfax quoted a source as saying. He was charged with espionage.
The Journal has denied that Gershkovich was spying and demanded the immediate release of its "trusted and dedicated reporter".
The United States has urged Russia to release Gershkovich and cast the Russian claims of espionage as ridiculous.
FBI foils "terror plot" targeting Los Angeles
Hong Kong court finds tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty in landmark security trial
Ukraine peace talks stretch into second day at start of pivotal week for Europe
Flash floods kill at least 37 people in Morocco's Safi province
'Hero' who disarmed Bondi gunman recovering after surgery, family says
