Russia Files New Charges Against US-Russian Journalist in Jail

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New charges have been brought by Russian authorities against an RFE/RL journalist who has been detained since October.

Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual citizen of the United States and Russia, is currently accused by authorities of disseminating misleading information about the Russian military, Kremlin-backed media claimed on Tuesday.

Editor Kurmasheva works for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir Service from Prague. She was already charged with not registering as a “foreign agent.” The charge, which carries a maximum five-year prison sentence, is rejected by her and her network.

Kurmasheva may get an extra 10 years in prison if found guilty of disseminating false information, as reported by the Baza Telegram channel and the state-run Tatar-Inform news agency in Tatarstan, Republic of Russia.

In a statement, acting President of RFE/RL Jeffrey Gedmin stated, “We strongly condemn the apparent decision by Russian authorities to bring additional charges against Alsu.”

Similar to VOA, RFE/RL is an independent media organisation supported by US Congress funding.

The accusation of fake news relates to a book about Russians who oppose the invasion of Ukraine that was released in 2022 by the RFE/RL Tatar-Bashkir Service. Investigators said Kurmasheva was involved in the book’s dissemination.

Reporting is not illegal. It is time to put an end to this senseless persecution. Gedmin stated, “Alsu has already been wrongfully detained for 56 days and kept apart from her family.”

Press freedom organisations have taken issue with the most recent legal action.

The criminalization of independent journalism is the real reason the Kremlin targeted Alsu Kurmasheva, according to fresh allegations against her, according to Clayton Weimer, executive director of Reporters Without Borders’ U.S. office.

“It has never been more clear that Alsu is wrongfully detained, and the U.S. State Department should designate her as such immediately,” Weimers said.

The State Department has been encouraged by press freedom organisations, RFE/RL, and a number of US lawmakers to declare Kurmasheva to have been illegally arrested. This would free up more funds to aid in her release.

The United States has determined that American Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich, who is incarcerated in Russia, was illegally imprisoned.

Gershkovich was arrested in March and faces espionage charges. The U.S. government, he, and his company all refute the accusations made against him.

VOA previously learned from a State Department official that the agency “continuously reviews the circumstances surrounding the detentions of U.S. nationals overseas, including those in Russia, for indicators that they are wrongful.”

When VOA emailed the Russian Embassy in Washington for comment, they did not respond right away.

Kurmasheva, a Prague native, visited Russia in May due to an urgent family matter. When she attempted to exit the country in June, her passports were seized, and when she was arrested in October, she was waiting for them to be restored.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan affirmed that Kurmasheva will remain in pretrial custody until at least February 4.

RFE/RL reported that activists in Kazan, Tatarstan, demonstrated on Sunday against the Kremlin’s persecution of independent journalists, such as Kurmasheva.

One placard read, “Alsu Kurmasheva is a journalist, not a criminal.”