US journalist’s detention extended by Russian court until December 5.
Kazan Court Extends Pre-Trial Detention of Russian-American Journalist
In a controversial decision, a Russian-American journalist accused of violating Russia’s law on foreign agents had her pre-trial detention extended until December 5. Alsu Kurmasheva, a Prague-based journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which receives funding from the U.S. Congress and is designated as a foreign agent by Russia, expressed her lawyer’s intention to appeal the “harsh” ruling.
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“We are deeply disappointed by the outcome of today’s hearing. We call for Alsu’s immediate release so she can be reunited with her family,” stated RFE/RL president Jeffrey Gedmin in response to the court ruling.
Ms. Kurmasheva is the second U.S. journalist to be arrested and charged in Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, which has severely strained relations between Moscow and Washington. Following the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges, most other U.S. journalists left Russia, prompted by repeated warnings from the U.S. State Department.
Last week, the U.S. State Department criticized the proceedings against Ms. Kurmasheva, characterizing them as another instance of the Russian government harassing American citizens. The Kremlin denied the accusation and deemed the comment inappropriate.
According to RFE/RL, Ms. Kurmasheva, who holds both U.S. and Russian passports, traveled to Russia in May to attend to a family emergency. However, as she awaited her return flight on June 2, she was detained and her passports were confiscated. She was subsequently fined for not registering her U.S. passport with Russian authorities and now faces charges of failing to register as a foreign agent, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
The term “foreign agent,” with its Cold War associations of espionage, has been applied by the Russian government to various organizations, journalists, and human rights activists, subjecting them to intense government scrutiny.
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The case of Alsu Kurmasheva has once again highlighted the tense relationship between the Russian government and foreign journalists operating within its borders. This specific case raises concerns about media freedom and the ability of journalists to work independently without fear of harassment or imprisonment.
Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist, is accused of violating Russia’s law on foreign agents, which requires organizations and individuals that receive funding from abroad and engage in political activities to register as foreign agents. According to the Russian government, this law is necessary to prevent foreign interference in domestic affairs.
However, the application of this law has been highly controversial, with critics arguing that it is used to stifle dissent and target independent voices. The designation of RFE/RL as a foreign agent has been widely criticized by press freedom organizations, who argue that it undermines the ability of journalists to report on important issues without fear of reprisals. The extended pre-trial detention of Kurmasheva only adds to these concerns.
It is important to note that RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress, a fact that has been cited as evidence of its foreign agent status. This raises questions about the potential impact of geopolitical tensions on the work of journalists. As relations between Russia and the United States grow increasingly strained, journalists who work for organizations affiliated with the U.S. government may find themselves targeted by Russian authorities.
The right to freedom of expression is a fundamental human right enshrined in international law. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Russia, as a signatory to international human rights treaties, is obligated to respect and protect this right.
However, the extended pre-trial detention of Kurmasheva raises concerns about the Russian government’s commitment to upholding this right. By imprisoning a journalist for her work, the Russian government is sending a chilling message to other journalists and media organizations that their work may also be met with punishment and imprisonment. This creates a climate of fear and self-censorship, which is detrimental to a functioning democracy.
The international community must pay close attention to this case and continue to advocate for the protection of press freedom in Russia. The work of journalists is vital for holding governments accountable and informing the public about important issues. Without the ability to work freely and independently, journalists are unable to fulfill this crucial role.
In conclusion, the extended pre-trial detention of Alsu Kurmasheva is a concerning development that highlights the challenges faced by foreign journalists in Russia. This case raises important questions about media freedom and the ability of journalists to work without fear of harassment or imprisonment. The international community must stand firm in its commitment to press freedom and continue to advocate for the protection of journalists worldwide.
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