Russian-American Journalist Sentenced to Six-and-a-Half Years in Kazan

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist and editor for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison by a court in Kazan for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian army. Her arrest occurred last October when she was charged with failing to register as a foreign agent. The sentencing coincided with the 16-year imprisonment of fellow US journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges, raising concerns about the treatment of journalists in Russia. Kurmasheva, a mother of two, has expressed distress over her situation, revealing that she has not been able to communicate with her daughters since her arrest. Her health has reportedly deteriorated during her time in custody. She had traveled to Kazan in May 2022 for a family emergency, and her legal troubles began when she was fined for not declaring her US passport, leading to her eventual arrest on the foreign agent charge. RFE/RL suggests that Kurmasheva's conviction may be linked to her editorial work on a book titled "Saying No to War," which features interviews with Russians opposed to the invasion of Ukraine. The use of the "false information" charge has intensified since the onset of the war, often targeting dissenting voices. While speculation about a potential prisoner swap for Gershkovich has emerged, Kurmasheva's future remains uncertain, with Russian judicial practices complicating the possibility of her release.