A Russian-American journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva, has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in Tatarstan for spreading false information about the Russian army, as reported by the Associated Press. Kurmasheva, who works for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was arrested for failing to register as a foreign agent and charged with spreading fake news.
The trial, held in secret, found Kurmasheva guilty of the accusations. This ruling came on the same day as another U.S. citizen, Evan Gershkovich, was sentenced to 16 years for espionage. Both journalists deny the charges against them. Kurmasheva was visiting her mother in Kazan when she was arrested last year.
State-affiliated media suggested that Kurmasheva’s case was related to a book about Ukraine’s war that she edited. Moscow is accused of using U.S. citizens to exchange for Russian nationals held in the West. Kurmasheva’s husband has expressed disbelief in the verdict and hopes for her release.