US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested in Russia this Wednesday due to failing to register as a “foreign agent.” Kurmasheva, who writes for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and holds dual citizenship for both Russia and the United States, travelled to Russia in May following a family emergency.
As per the details provided by RFE/RL, Kurmasheva found herself detained temporarily at Kazan airport during her attempted return to the US in June, at which point, both her US and Russian passports were confiscated. Consequently, she was prevented from leaving the country, leading to her subsequent arrest for failing to register as a “foreign agent.” If she is found guilty, Kurmasheva could face a sentence of up to five years in prison.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has released a statement condemning the arrest and warning that this forms part of a recent trend of crackdowns on independent journalism within Russia, particularly on journalism pertaining to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. CPJ’s statement included a quote from a colleague of Kurmasheva, who said, “Alsu was detained simply because she is an employee of Radio Liberty. In fact, now any independent journalist in Russia risks the same thing.”
Kurmasheva’s arrest comes in the wake of a similar event earlier this year, with Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich arrested on comparable charges only seven months ago in March. Despite originally facing a two month detention, Gershkovich remains in custody as he awaits trial. This notably marks the second time within a single year that an American journalist has been detained within Russia, sparking concerns about increasing measures against free press.
This article is based on an original report by Jurist.