Russia Extends Detention of American Journalist from Radio Free Europe for Two More Months

A court in Russia on Thursday extended the pre-trial detention of Alsu Kormashova, a journalist from 'Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty', for another two months; a decision made amid a crackdown on independent media and domestic critics in Russia, especially following the country's military invasion of Ukraine. Alsu Kormashova, who holds dual citizenship of the United States and Russia, is the second American journalist to be detained by Russia in the past year. She was arrested in October and faces charges of being an 'unregistered foreign agent'. Kormashova's detention has been extended once until December and once until February. The term 'foreign agent', which evokes Cold War espionage allegations, is used in Russia for organizations, journalists, human rights activists, and even artists, bringing strict government oversight and a plethora of bureaucratic procedures for their activities. While Kormashova has not been convicted of any crime, her employer announced that the court has extended her detention until April 5 and rejected her request for house arrest. Stephen Kapos, the director of 'Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty', condemned the actions of Russian authorities, stating: 'Russian officials have launched a regrettable criminal campaign against Kormashova, who has been wrongfully detained.' Last week, a court in Moscow also extended the pre-trial detention of Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist for the 'Wall Street Journal', who has been detained in Russia on charges of 'espionage', until the end of March. While Gershkovich and the 'Wall Street Journal' deny these charges, and the U.S. government states that Russia has wrongfully detained him and he should be released immediately, Russian officials have yet to provide any evidence to support their claims. Analysts believe that following the escalation of tensions between the U.S. and Russia after Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is using imprisoned American citizens as a bargaining tool and leverage in negotiations.