Alsu Kurmasheva, an American journalist working for Radio Free Europe, was arrested in Russia in June 2023 and charged with failing to declare herself as a foreign agent. This arrest is a new illustration of the growing repression against independent journalists in Russia.
According to her employer, Alsu Kurmasheva was in Russia for a family emergency when authorities arrested her in Kazan. His American and Russian passports were confiscated, preventing him from leaving the country. She has since been indicted for collecting military information on Russian activities via the Internet and spreading disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting Russia.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) quickly responded, calling for Alsu Kurmasheva’s immediate release and all charges to be dropped. CPJ stresses that journalism is not a crime and denounces Russia’s desire to stifle the freedom of the independent press.
This arrest comes a few months after that of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, also detained in Russia on espionage charges. The alarming situation of foreign journalists in Russia raises concerns about the protection of press freedom in the country.
Alsu Kurmasheva is an experienced journalist who has covered ethnic minorities in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in Russia for many years. His arrest sparks outrage within the international journalism community and highlights the importance of protecting the rights and safety of journalists.
It is crucial that the international community maintain pressure on Russia to release these journalists and commit to press freedom around the world. Journalists play an essential role in democracy by providing independent and critical information, and their safety and freedom must be guaranteed.