A Russian-American journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva, has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army. The court in Kazan revealed this decision on Monday following two days of court proceedings. Kurmasheva, who works for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was arrested in October while visiting her family in Tatarstan. She has been accused of failing to declare her U.S. passport, which is mandatory under Russian law, and of not registering as a “foreign agent.”
Kurmasheva’s husband, Pavel Butorin, believes her arrest is related to a book she edited called “Saying No to War. 40 Stories of Russians Who Oppose the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.” Her case is one of several involving American citizens who have been convicted and jailed in Russia amid strained relations with the West. RFE/RL, funded by the U.S. Congress, has been designated as a “foreign agent” and an “undesirable” organization by Russia, effectively banning it within the country. Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has imposed harsh penalties on individuals who criticize the war and spread false information about the military.
RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus has condemned Kurmasheva’s trial and conviction, calling it a “mockery of justice.” He has urged for her immediate release, emphasizing her innocence and the need for her to be reunited with her family. The U.S. embassy has not yet commented on the sentencing, and it is unclear whether Kurmasheva plans to appeal the decision. In a separate case, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage in a trial held behind closed doors, prompting criticism from his newspaper and the U.S. government.
Butorin has called on the U.S. government to designate Kurmasheva as wrongfully detained, similar to Gershkovich’s case, in order to facilitate diplomatic efforts to secure her release. The State Department has reiterated calls for her freedom, describing her as a dedicated journalist targeted by Russian authorities for her commitment to truth and principled reporting. As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, instances of journalists and citizens being targeted for their views or reporting have raised concerns about the erosion of press freedom and human rights in Russia. The international community will be closely watching developments in Kurmasheva’s case and advocating for her release.
