Russian-American Journalist Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Russia
- Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, has been sentenced to 6.5 years in a Russian prison.
- She was convicted of 'spreading false information' about the Russian army.
- The trial was reportedly rapid and conducted in secrecy.
A Russian court has sentenced Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist working for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, to 6½ years in prison for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military. The conviction, which occurred during a secret trial in Kazan, has been met with strong condemnation from her family, employer, and the U.S. government, all of whom have called for her immediate release. This ruling coincided with the conviction of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who received a 16-year sentence for espionage, further raising concerns about the treatment of journalists in Russia. Kurmasheva, 47, was found guilty after a trial lasting only two days, with charges reportedly linked to a 2022 publication titled "No to War," which featured stories from Russians opposed to the war in Ukraine. The Russian authorities have increasingly cracked down on dissenting voices regarding the conflict, implementing laws that criminalize any public expression deviating from the official narrative. Following her arrest, Kurmasheva's U.S. and Russian passports were confiscated, and she faced fines for failing to register her U.S. passport. The simultaneous convictions of Kurmasheva and Gershkovich have sparked speculation about potential prisoner swaps between the U.S. and Russia. While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on this possibility, analysts suggest that the Kremlin may be leveraging these cases for negotiations. RFE/RL's CEO has labeled Kurmasheva's trial a "mockery of justice," urging for her release and highlighting the broader implications for press freedom in Russia. U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have condemned the charges against both journalists, emphasizing that they are being targeted for their work. The State Department has also called for Kurmasheva's release, echoing concerns about the increasing risks faced by journalists operating in Russia amid a climate of repression.