Russia Extends Detention of American Journalist 'Radio Free Europe' for the Third Time

A court in Russia on Monday extended the pre-trial detention of Alsu Kormashova, an imprisoned American journalist, for the third time until June 5; 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 Russian authorities in the past year. She is the editor of Radio Free Europe, 'Radio Liberty', a sister organization of Voice of America, and faces charges of being an 'unregistered foreign agent', having been imprisoned since October 2023. Kormashova's detention has been extended first until December, then until February, and now for the third time until April 5. The term 'foreign agent', evoking Cold War-era espionage accusations, is used in Russia for organizations, journalists, human rights activists, and even artists, bringing about strict government oversight and a plethora of bureaucratic procedures for their activities. While Alsu Kormashova and her employer, Radio Liberty, deny the charges against her, if convicted in a Russian court, she faces a total of 15 years in prison. Stephen Kapos, the director of Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, stated in response to the extension of this journalist's detention: 'Alsu Kormashova's detention today is as cruel as it was six months ago.' Previously, Kapos condemned the actions of Russian authorities, stating: 'Russian officials have launched a regrettable criminal campaign against Kormashova, who has been wrongfully detained.' Recently, a court in Russia also extended the temporary detention of Ivan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old journalist for the Wall Street Journal, who was arrested nearly a year ago on suspicion of espionage, for another three months. While Moscow announced that 'complete silence' is needed regarding a potential prisoner exchange that includes Ivan Gershkovich, U.S. President Joe Biden stated on the anniversary of Gershkovich's detention by Russia that the U.S. is tirelessly working to ensure his freedom. Analysts believe that following heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia due to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is using imprisoned American citizens as a bargaining tool.