Arrest of American Journalist in Russia; Alsu Kormashova, Radio Free Europe Journalist Detained

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported the arrest of Alsu Kormashova, a journalist for Radio Free Europe, on Wednesday in Kazan, Russia, and expressed deep concern over this detention. Gulnoza Said, the coordinator of the Europe and Central Asia program at Radio Free Europe, emphasized the need for Ms. Kormashova's immediate release, stating, "We are deeply concerned about the arrest of Alsu Kormashova, an American-Russian journalist on fabricated charges, and we call on Russian authorities to release her immediately and drop all charges against her." She noted that journalism is not a crime and considered Kormashova's arrest as further evidence that Russia is determined to suppress independent reporting and prevent the free flow of information. Kazan officials, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, stated that Kormashova, who was serving as the editor of the Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Free Europe, was detained as a foreign agent and an individual who was collecting information related to Russian military activities. Accused of activities "against the security of the Russian Federation," under Russian criminal law, she could face up to five years in prison. Kormashova, a dual American-Russian citizen living in Prague, traveled to Russia for a family visit on May 20 this year but was temporarily detained at Kazan airport on June 2 before her return flight. According to Radio Free Europe, officials confiscated her American and Russian passports and fined her for not registering her American passport. Since June, Alsu Kormashova has been unable to leave Russia and is facing new charges while awaiting the return of her passports, leading to her arrest on October 18. The Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Free Europe regularly covers the war in Ukraine and the suppression of civil society in the country by Russian authorities.