Russia Extends Detention of American Journalist for Another 43 Days

Russia has extended the temporary detention of Alsu Kurmashova, a Russian-American journalist accused by Moscow of being a foreign agent, until December 5, which is another 43 days. Alsu Kurmashova is a journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Edgar Matousian, Kurmashova's lawyer, told Reuters that he considers the Kazan court's decision 'excessively harsh' and intends to appeal it. According to this ruling, she is to be held in a detention facility in Kazan. Jeffrey Gedmin, the head of Radio Free Europe, stated in a post-court ruling statement: 'We are deeply disheartened by the outcome of today’s court session. We demand the immediate release of Alsu so she can join her family.' Kurmashova is the second American journalist to be detained and charged in Russia since the onset of the war in Ukraine, which has brought Moscow-Washington relations to their lowest point in over sixty years. After Ivan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, was arrested on espionage charges in March, which he denies, nearly all other American journalists left Russia. Washington has repeatedly urged other Americans to leave Russia. The U.S. State Department said last week that the handling of Kurmashova's case is 'another instance of harassment of American citizens by the Russian government.' Radio Free Europe reported that Kurmashova, who holds both American and Russian passports, entered Russia on May 20 due to a family emergency. However, she was temporarily detained at Kazan airport on June 2 before her return flight. According to Radio Liberty, Russian authorities confiscated her American and Russian passports and fined her for not registering her American passport. Alsu Kurmashova has been unable to leave Russia since June and faced new charges before being detained again on October 18 while awaiting the return of her passports. Galnuzha Said, the coordinator for the Europe and Central Asia program at Radio Liberty, emphasized the need for Kurmashova's immediate release, stating: 'We are deeply concerned about the detention of Alsu Kurmashova, a Russian-American journalist on fabricated charges, and we urge Russian authorities to release her immediately and drop all charges against her.' She stated that journalism is not a crime, and Kurmashova's detention is another indication that Russia is determined to block independent reporting and prevent the free flow of information. Kazan officials, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, say Kurmashova, who was working as the editor of the Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Free Europe, was detained as a foreign agent and someone who was gathering information related to Russia's 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. The term 'foreign agent,' which evokes Cold War espionage accusations, has been used in Russia for organizations, journalists, human rights activists, and even artists, bringing with it close government scrutiny and a mountain of bureaucratic red tape for their activities.