Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army. She works for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Another U.S. citizen, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage in a separate case, which his newspaper and the United States have called a sham.
RFE/RL President called Kurmasheva’s trial and conviction a mockery of justice and urged for her immediate release. She has been held since October 2021 and was initially detained for not declaring her U.S. passport as required by Russian law. Her husband, Pavel Butorin, believes her arrest is related to a book she edited about Russians opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress and Russia has designated it as a “foreign agent” and “undesirable” organization, effectively banning it in Russia. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has imposed harsh penalties on those criticizing the war under a law banning the spread of false information about the military.
Butorin has petitioned for the U.S. government to designate Kurmasheva as wrongfully detained, like in Gershkovich’s case, to aid in negotiating her release. The State Department has called for her release, stating that she is being targeted by Russian authorities for her commitment to truth and principled reporting. Several Americans have been convicted and jailed in Russia amid deteriorating relations with the West.
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