The Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who lives in Prague, Czech Republic’s capital, arrived in Russia on 20 May for a family emergency. On her way back to Prague, she was temporarily held at Kazan airport on 2 June, and both her US and Russian passports were confiscated.
Russian authorities fined her for failing to register her American passport, an offence that leads up to 5 years in prison. On 20 October, Kurmasheva’s custody was extended by 72 hours and her pre-trial detention was also extended on October 23 until 5 December.
She is the second US journalist to be held by Russia this year together with Evan Gershkovich. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty pressroom has called for the journalist's immediate release on Twitter.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "The arrest of Alsu Kurmasheva represents another stifling attempt to suppress independent journalists in Russia. We demand Kurmasheva’s immediate release.”
"The Russian law on foreign agents and undesirable organisations is a repressive tool that can be used to convict anyone, even if they have nothing to hide," added EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez. "At present, 245 media outlets and journalists are targeted by these charges. This is clearly a way for the Russian regime to hold journalists hostage. We demand the withdrawal of these repressive laws."
UPDATED 13.12.2023 Russian investigators have filed another case against Alsu Kurmasheva, now accused of spreading "fake" news in relation to Russia's armed forces, RFE reports. The additional charge could lead to up to 10 years in prison.
UPDATED 04.04.2024 On 1 April 2024 a Russian court extended the pre-trial detention of jailed American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until June 5 for failing to register as a foreign agent, according to media reports.