Russian Court Sentences Radio Free Europe Journalist to Six and a Half Years in Prison

A court in Russia has sentenced Alsu Kormashova, an experienced journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who holds dual citizenship of Russia and the United States, to six and a half years in prison for "spreading false information about the Russian army." Ms. Kormashova, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and the U.S. government have denied the charges, claiming her arrest and trial are politically motivated. The Associated Press, which first reported the news, stated on Monday, July 23, citing court documents and officials' statements, that the prison sentence for Alsu Kormashova was issued at the end of a closed trial in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, on July 19. Steven Kapes, President and CEO of Radio Free Europe, described the trial and the court's ruling as a "mockery of justice," stating, "The only fair outcome is the immediate release of Alsu from prison by Russia." He further added, "It is time for this American citizen and our dear colleague to return to her family." Reporters Without Borders stated that Russia has kept Alsu Kormashova in inhumane conditions for six months. Ms. Kormashova was arrested on October 18, 2023, on charges of failing to register as a "foreign agent" and "spreading false information about the Russian army." The purpose of the stringent law known as "foreign agents" is to limit the activities of media personnel and civil society organizations through punitive measures. The U.S. government and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty claim that the charges against Alsu Kormashova are retaliation for her professional activities in this media outlet. On July 19, concurrently with the court ruling against Ms. Kormashova, a court in Yekaterinburg, Russia, convicted Ivan Gershkovich, a reporter for the American newspaper Wall Street Journal, of espionage. Mr. Gershkovich has denied the charges, and the Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government condemned his trial and conviction as politically motivated actions. The White House stated on July 19 that the Russian government arrested and prosecuted Mr. Gershkovich because he is a journalist and an American citizen. Unlike Ivan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who was also sentenced to 16 years in prison for "espionage," Alsu Kormashova has not been designated by the U.S. government as an illegal detainee. Classifying Americans imprisoned abroad as "illegal detainees" allows their cases to be pursued by the special hostage envoy at the State Department, resulting in the U.S. government allocating more resources to ensure their freedom. The National Press Club of the United States, a professional journalists' organization, and 18 other media freedom advocacy groups called on President Joe Biden on May 31 in an open letter to designate Alsu Kormashova as an "illegal detainee." Part of the letter states: "She meets all the criteria. She should immediately be classified as an illegal detainee. This should have been done months ago." The letter adds: "We have heard various justifications from the State Department regarding the implementation of this law and consideration of other factors, but this agency has not clearly stated why she (Alsu Kormashova) cannot be designated as an illegal detainee."