Russia: Women Press Freedom Condemns Secret Trial and 6.5-Year Prison Sentence for Alsu Kurmasheva
Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns this unjust conviction, handed down in a secret trial
Location: Russia, Kazan
Date: July 22, 2024
In a stark affront to press freedom, a Russian court has convicted American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in a secret trial, sentencing her to six and a half years in prison. The trial, held in Kazan, was both retaliatory and unjust. Kurmasheva, an editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), faced charges of spreading false information about the Russian military—a claim vehemently denied by her employer and the U.S. government. The secretive nature of the trial and the conviction have raised serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the proceedings. Women Press Freedom is outraged by this sentencing, which coincided with the sentencing of US journalist Evan Gershkovich to over 16 years in a Russian court on unfounded espionage charges. We demand that Russia immediately release Alsu Kurmasheva and cease its relentless assault on independent press workers.
Court records, made public on July 22, 2024, reveal that Russian-American editor Alsu Kurmasheva was sentenced in a secret, expedited trial held three days earlier in Kazan. The trial was conducted behind closed doors, with no public details provided about the specific allegations against her.
“This secret trial and conviction make a mockery of justice,” said Stephen Capus, president and CEO of RFE/RL following news of Kurmasheva’s conviction. “The only just outcome is for Alsu to be immediately released from prison by her Russian captors. It's beyond time for this American citizen, our dear colleague, to be reunited with her loving family.”
Kurmasheva was detained last October after traveling from Czechia to Russia to care for her elderly mother. Initially accused of failing to register as a foreign agent—a charge often used against journalists critical of the Russian government—she faced additional charges in December 2023 related to allegedly sharing false information about the military. This military censorship law, introduced following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has been repeatedly used to harass and imprison journalists reporting truthfully on the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine.
Russia often conducts trials behind closed doors, but issuing a verdict and sentencing in such a manner is extremely unusual. The speed of Kurmasheva’s trial parallels the recent fast-track trial of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, who was convicted after spending over a year behind bars. The expedited nature of Gershkovich's trial raised hopes of a possible prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow, as the Kremlin has previously stated it would only consider such deals after a conviction. The fate of Kurmasheva, however, remains uncertain, given her dual citizenship status.
The secretive nature of Alsu Kurmasheva's trial and her harsh sentence are clear attempts to stifle truthful reporting and intimidate journalists worldwide. This travesty of justice, held in Kazan behind closed doors, denies Kurmasheva the fair and transparent trial to which she is entitled. The charges against her are baseless, a clear retaliation for her honest reporting, and an effort to silence independent journalism. Women Press Freedom loudly condemns the actions of the Kremlin and calls on the international community to denounce this blatant violation of press freedom and human rights. We urge the United States government to press for Kurmasheva's immediate release and to stand united against the repression of journalists.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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