American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested this Thursday by FSB officers in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on suspicion of “espionage” in an incident that further heightened diplomatic tensions between the US and Russia. Gershkovich, 31, was arrested “red-handed” while trying to gather information on a company “with links to the Russian military-industrial complex” that some sources believe is the Wagner Group, a military company, according to a Kremlin spokesman. led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, one of Vladimir Putin’s most prominent allies. The journalist was taken to Moscow, where he was present this Thursday before a judge who confirmed the charges and issued a pre-trial detention order, despite Gershkovich pleading not guilty. His lawyer says he was banned from entering the courtroom. The Wall Street Journal categorically denies the accusations against its correspondent, whom he called a “dedicated and reliable” journalist. Russian authorities say it is too early to talk about a possible prisoner swap with the United States, which is likely to take place only after a final verdict, as happened in the case of basketball player Britney Griner.