A Russian court has extended the detention of Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva by two months, until August 5, following charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. The Kazan hearing on May 31 resulted in the denial of house arrest, further complicating Kurmasheva’s situation. She was detained in October 2023 for not disclosing her dual citizenship as mandated by Russian law, making it a significant case in the ongoing tension between press freedom and state regulations.
Kurmasheva, a journalist for RadioFreeEurope Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), faces charges under Part 3 of Article 330.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for failing to fulfill the legal requirements necessary for inclusion in the register of foreign agents. This specific charge implicates her in activities that could potentially harm Russian national security if the information were received by foreign entities. Additionally, she is charged under Part 2(e) of Article 207.3 for distributing the book “No to War. 40 Stories of Russians Opposing the Invasion of Ukraine.” (Full text of Russian legislation)
In an interview with RFE/RL, Kurmasheva mentioned that her health is deteriorating, possibly necessitating surgery. She expressed the challenges of receiving adequate medical care while in detention and highlighted the lack of communication with her children. Kurmasheva’s husband shared on X (formerly Twitter) that her ongoing detention prevents her from returning to her family in Europe.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has ardently advocated for Kurmasheva’s immediate release. Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, emphasized that Kurmasheva’s detention is unjust, urging Russian authorities to provide her with proper medical care and for the U.S. to expedite her designation as “wrongfully detained.” (CPJ Statement)
As of now, Kurmasheva remains in detention with mounting international pressure calling for her release and better treatment under the legal framework.