Russia has detained Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalist with dual U.S. and Russian citizenship. She was detained on October 18, 2023, and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent.
This is a serious charge, and it carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Kurmasheva has denied the charge, and RFE/RL has called for her immediate release.
Kurmasheva is not the first journalist to be detained in Russia on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. In recent years, the Russian government has cracked down on independent media outlets, and many journalists have been forced to flee the country.
The detention of Kurmasheva is a worrying development, and it is a reminder of the dangers that journalists face in Russia. I hope that she is released soon and that she is able to continue her work without fear of reprisal.
international community will speak out against the detention of Kurmasheva and demand her release. Freedom of the press is essential to a democratic society, and the Russian government should respect the right of journalists to do their work without fear of intimidation or harassment.