Thursday Briefing: Evan Gershkovich’s trial begins

An attempted coup in Bolivia and saving amphibians with "frog saunas"

View in browser|nytimes.com June 27, 2024 By Daniel E. Slotnik Good morning. We're covering the opening of Evan Gershkovich's trial in Russia and a coup attempt in Bolivia. Plus: "Frog saunas" could help at-risk amphibians. Evan Gershkovich before his court hearing yesterday. Natalia Kolesnikova/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Evan Gershkovich's trial began in Russia Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter and a U.S. citizen, has already endured nearly 15 months in a notorious Moscow prison. Yesterday, his trial finally began. Gershkovich, 32, is the first Western journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the 1980s. He faces up to 20 years in a penal colony on a spying charge that he, his employer and the U.S. have all called bogus and politically motivated. The Russian authorities haven't revealed any evidence that he was a spy. There is little doubt about the outcome of the trial, but there may be hope: a prisoner exchange. "It's widely accepted that the Russian state regards his case as leverage to get Russians held in custody — either in the U.S. or in other Western countries," said my colleague Ivan Nechepurenko, who is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and has covered Gershkovich's case. "There's going to be this trial, but the more important process will be the ongoing talks between Russian and American intelligence services about a potential prisoner exchange," Ivan said. Shortly before the proceedings started, video showed Gershkovich standing in a glass cage and nodding at people in the courtroom. Observers have been barred from attending the trial, which began in the industrial city of Yekaterinburg, near the Ural Mountains. Gershkovich's lawyers have been prohibited from publicly revealing anything they learn. Ivan said that Gershkovich has a lot of public support, which could turn up the heat on U.S. negotiators, as it did for Brittney Griner, the W.N.B.A. star who was detained in Russia and released in late 2022. "It basically all depends on whether the U.S. and Russia can make a deal," Ivan told me. Also in Russia: A prominent playwright and a director are being prosecuted for their work. Cultural figures say their trial on terrorism charges is a chilling sign of increased repression. Downtown Nairobi after the protests. Luis Tato/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Kenya's leader rejected tax bill In a sudden reversal, President William Ruto said yesterday that he would not sign a controversial finance bill, a day after rights groups said that at least 23 people had been killed during protests in Nairobi against the measure. "Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this finance bill, I concede," Ruto said in an address to the country, "and therefore, I will not sign the 2024 finance bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn." Tuesday was one of the bloodiest days in Kenya's recent history. Ruto deployed the military to deal with what he called "treasonous" protests. Some people vowed to march again today to protest the crackdown and mourn those killed. Context: Kenya has the fastest-growing economy in Africa, but it is also on the brink of fiscal calamity, with $80 billion in domestic and foreign public debt. Ruto had championed the bill as a way to stabilize the economy. Those against it argued that the tax hikes would raise the cost of living by too much. Bolivian military police in La Paz on Wednesday. Aizar Raldes/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Bolivian general arrested after a coup attempt A top general leading members of Bolivia's military tried to storm the presidential palace yesterday, and then quickly retreated, in what appeared to be a failed coup. Video on Bolivian television showed a camouflaged military vehicle ramming a palace door in La Paz, the administrative capital, and soldiers trying to make their way inside. The forces and the general leading them, Juan José Zuñiga, then pulled back, to be replaced by police officers who supported the democratically elected president, Luis Arce. The attempted incursion into the palace lasted just three hours. As time wore on, it became clear that General Zuñiga's plan had little support, and he was later taken into custody. Just before he was arrested, General Zuñiga claimed without evidence that Arce had asked him to stage the coup attempt. Background: Bolivia is a deeply polarized country that has had 190 coups during its 200 years of history. The country's economy has been struggling, and Arce has been accused of undemocratic moves, like detaining opposition figures. MORE TOP NEWS Robin Utrecht/EPA, via Shutterstock Diplomacy: Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, was named the new head of NATO, which will put a pro-Ukraine leader at the helm of the alliance. He starts Oct. 1. Ukraine: At next month's summit in Washington, NATO plans to offer Ukraine a new mission in Germany to manage its military assistance. Iran: All of the contenders in Iran's presidential election are assuming Donald Trump will win in November. Voters are concerned with who can best deal with him. U.S. election: President Biden faces deep doubts among Democrats, while Republicans have rallied behind Trump — even after his felony conviction, a poll by The Times and Siena College shows. Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition appeared to hold after the Supreme Court ruled that Israel's military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Australia: Julian Assange enjoys broad support from his home country, which seems to have grown out of resentment toward his treatment by the U.S. Mali: The International Criminal Court convicted a jihadist for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the occupation of Timbuktu by terrorist groups. U.S.: President Biden pardoned around 2,000 American veterans who were convicted of engaging in gay sex under a military code that outlawed the behavior for more than 60 years. Honduras: The country's former president was sentenced to 45 years in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S. SPORTS NEWS Euro 2024: England qualified for the knockout stage with a scoreless draw against Slovenia. A tough job: Meet the committee in charge of picking Simone Biles's fellow gymnasts for Team USA at the Paris Olympics. Soccer: The Athletic interviewed the former Paris St.-Germain player who was accused of instigating an attack on her teammate in 2021. MORNING READ Frog saunas. Anthony Waddle A fatal fungal disease has devastated the world's frog population. But scientists may have come up with a solution: saunas. Researchers in Australia found that sun-warmed bricks attracted the green and golden bell frog, a vulnerable species, and raised its body temperature, helping it fight off infection and giving it a degree of immunity. CONVERSATION STARTERS Traveling in style: It's a golden age for bizarre vehicles in New York City. A national obsession: In Jamaica, the popularity of lychee cake tells the history of Chinese immigration. In defense of wine: Sales are down and health concerns are up, but the beauty and joy that the grape brings shouldn't be forgotten, our wine critic writes. ARTS AND IDEAS Elke Scholiers for The New York Times Is India the future for international brands? In a global marketplace reshaped by volatile forces — especially the animosity between the U.S. and China — some multinational retailers are turning away from Chinese factories. Instead, many are looking to India, which may be on the verge of becoming a major manufacturing power. The shift could fortify the global supply chain and lift India's fortunes. The country has roughly one billion people of working age, but only about 430 million jobs, according to an independent research institution. Growing exports could be a source of new jobs — especially for women, who have largely been shut out of the formal working ranks. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Con Poulos for The New York Times. Cook: Whipped goat cheese is the base for this bright tomato and peach salad. Read: Emily Nussbaum's new book goes deep on reality television. Revisit: The Wayans brothers' subversive comedy "White Chicks" may be smarter than you remember. Organize: Bringing order to a cluttered closet can make daily life feel smoother. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. P.S. Play Strands, our newest puzzle. That's it for today. Thank you for reading, and see you tomorrow. — Dan A correction: Yesterday's newsletter referred imprecisely to the European Court of Human Rights as related to the E.U. It is an international court of the Council of Europe, not of the E.U. You can reach us at briefing@nytimes.com. Amelia Nierenberg contributed reporting. Thanks to Ivan Nechepurenko. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. 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