The detention of 31-year-old American journalist Evan Gershkovich in the Russian town of Yekaterinburg was extended by about three months following his arrest in March on the grounds of espionage against the Russian government.
His arrest marked the first time the Kremlin accused a US journalist of espionage since the Soviet era.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter has denied the charges, and so does his employer and the US government.
A Moscow district court ruled the journalist was to be detained until August 30th for allegedly committing "a crime under Article 276 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation". No journalists were allowed in the proceeding.
If found guilty, Gershkovich will face 20 years in prison
WSJ: Accusations against Gershkovich "demonstrably false"
The Wall Street Journal said in a statement that their reporter had appeared for a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday.
"While we expected there would be no change to Evan's wrongful detention, we are deeply disappointed," the publication said.
Separately, WSJ reporters have expressed support for their detained colleague on Twitter.
Melissa Korn called Gershkovich's detention a "horribly disappointing development," while Joe Flint had a simple message to the Russian government: "RELEASE EVAN NOW."
Meanwhile, a group of 300 foreign correspondents who previously worked in Russia sent an open letter addressed to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
"We have no doubt that the only purpose and intention of his work was to inform his readers about the current reality in Russia," the letter said.
Blinken to Russia: Release Gershkovich
Last month, the White House designated Gershkovich as wrongfully detained. His case was moved to the State Department's Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, allowing the government to find out ways to secure his release.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken demanded Gershkovich's release as part of his statement for World Press Freedom Day.
"We...call on Russian authorities to immediately release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and all other journalists held for exercising freedom of expression," he said.
