Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva sentenced to over six years in Moscow jail

Russian-American Journalist Sentenced to Prison for Spreading False Information about Russian Army

A Russian court has handed down a six and a half-year prison sentence to Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for the US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), for spreading false information about the Russian army. Natalya Loseva, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court of Tatarstan, announced the sentencing after a two-day trial in Kazan.

Kurmasheva, based in Prague, was arrested during a visit to Tatarstan and initially charged with not declaring her US passport, for which she was fined. Subsequently, she was accused of not registering as a ‘foreign agent’, a charge she denied. Her husband, Pavel Butorin, expressed his belief in her innocence and called for her release.

Her case is part of a crackdown on independent journalists in Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. RFE/RL, labeled a ‘foreign agent’ by Russia, has faced increasing restrictions. The sentencing of Kurmasheva and another US citizen highlights the challenges faced by journalists reporting on sensitive issues in Russia.