Journalist Evan Gershkovich with shaved head at the start of the espionage trial in Russia

The shaven-headed Evan Gershkovich briefly appeared before journalists on Wednesday at the start of a trial on espionage charges in a Russian court.

Gershkovich, 32, stood in a glass box, wearing an open-collar shirt and with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

The Wall Street Journal reporter is accused by prosecutors of collecting secret information on behalf of the US secret service CIA about a company that manufactures tanks for Russia's war in Ukraine. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

He, his newspaper and the US government deny the allegations and say he was merely doing his job as a reporter accredited by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The trial is taking place behind closed doors, meaning the media is excluded and no friends, family members or U.S. embassy staff are allowed to support Gershkovich. Such arrangements are common in espionage or treason trials in Russia.

Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Gershkovich and other Americans imprisoned in Russia are embroiled in the most serious crisis between Moscow and Washington in more than 60 years.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia was open to the idea of ​​a prisoner exchange related to Gershkovich and that there had been contacts with the United States, but that these had to remain secret.

The US has accused Russia of engaging in “hostage diplomacy”. It has called Gershkovich and the other detained American, Paul Whelan, “wrongfully held” and said it will work to bring them home.