A court in Russia was expected to deliver a verdict on Friday in the espionage case of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, after prosecutors reportedly asked the court to sentence him to nearly 20 years in a penal colony.
The proceedings were recently moved up by more than three weeks, and although Mr. Gershkovich is expected to be convicted, a verdict would open the way for a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.
On Wednesday, the Russian foreign minister, Sergei V. Lavrov, said that the two countries were holding talks on a possible swap involving Mr. Gershkovich, who was arrested almost 16 months ago.
Russian officials have said that discreet talks were being conducted with the United States about Mr. Gershkovich, but that any prisoner swap would come only after a verdict was handed down.
The court in Yekaterinburg, where Mr. Gershkovich was initially detained while on a reporting assignment, said in a statement that it had concluded hearing evidence, including testimony from witnesses and a statement from Mr. Gershkovich, who was also interrogated as a witness.
Judge Andrei N. Mineev, who is hearing the case, was formulating his verdict, the court said, and an announcement was expected in the afternoon. The Russian state news agency Tass reported Mr. Gershkovich had pleaded not guilty, and that prosecutors were seeking an 18-year sentence in a high-security prison.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.