Russia Sentences Alsu Kurmasheva, American Editor, to a Penal Colony
Ms. Kurmasheva, a Russian American working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, had been charged in relation to an antiwar book she edited.
A Russian court has sentenced Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, to six and a half years in a penal colony for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian Army. The conviction, which took place on Friday, has been criticized by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's president and CEO, Stephen Capus, as a "mockery of justice."
Kurmasheva, a Russian-American with dual citizenship, was detained in her native city of Kazan, Russia, last October for failing to register as a "foreign agent." In December, she was charged with spreading false information about the Russian Army in relation to a book she edited titled "No to War," which featured stories of Russians opposing the invasion of Ukraine.
The court case against Kurmasheva was processed rapidly and behind closed doors, similar to the case of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was recently sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony on espionage charges. The quick convictions of both Kurmasheva and Gershkovich have raised the possibility of a potential prisoner swap between the Russian and US governments.
Kurmasheva's husband, Pavel Butorin, has stated that his wife has done nothing wrong and that their family needs her home. Kurmasheva had been living in Prague with her husband and two daughters for over two decades before traveling to Kazan in May 2023 to care for her sick mother. She was detained again in October and charged as a "foreign agent."
Kurmasheva is one of several American citizens who have been detained in Russia in recent years, including Paul Whelan and Marc Fogel. The detentions have sparked fears that the Kremlin may be using them as bargaining chips for potential prisoner exchanges.
Kurmasheva, a Russian-American with dual citizenship, was detained in her native city of Kazan, Russia, last October for failing to register as a "foreign agent." In December, she was charged with spreading false information about the Russian Army in relation to a book she edited titled "No to War," which featured stories of Russians opposing the invasion of Ukraine.
The court case against Kurmasheva was processed rapidly and behind closed doors, similar to the case of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was recently sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony on espionage charges. The quick convictions of both Kurmasheva and Gershkovich have raised the possibility of a potential prisoner swap between the Russian and US governments.
Kurmasheva's husband, Pavel Butorin, has stated that his wife has done nothing wrong and that their family needs her home. Kurmasheva had been living in Prague with her husband and two daughters for over two decades before traveling to Kazan in May 2023 to care for her sick mother. She was detained again in October and charged as a "foreign agent."
Kurmasheva is one of several American citizens who have been detained in Russia in recent years, including Paul Whelan and Marc Fogel. The detentions have sparked fears that the Kremlin may be using them as bargaining chips for potential prisoner exchanges.