TIMELINE: Alsu Kurmasheva: Revered American-Russian Journalist, Wrongfully Detained by Russian Authorities
Alsu Kurmasheva, a distinguished American-Russian journalist and editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was released from prison in Russia on August 1, 2024 and is finally able to return home to her family in Prague after ten grueling months. The RFE/RL journalist's release was secured as part of a mass prisoner swap between several Western countries and Russia. Since her unjust detention last October, Women Press Freedom has been continuously advocating for Alsu’s release. During her ordeal, Kurmasheva, holding both U.S. and Russian citizenship, was denied proper medical care and contact with her family.
Kurmasheva was unfairly detained by Russian authorities from October 18, 2023. Residing in the Czech Republic, Kurmasheva was visiting Kazan, Russia for a family emergency when she was targeted by authorities. On July 16, 2024, she was sentenced to 6,5 years in prison following a secret trial.
Known for her commitment to reporting on cultural and human rights issues, especially concerning ethnic minorities in Russia, Kurmasheva's arrest is seen as a targeted assault on journalistic freedom. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly condemns this persecution, asserting that she is being targeted not just for her journalism but also for her U.S. citizenship.
As an American, Kurmasheva deserves the full support of the U.S. government and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. We urgently call upon the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take decisive action, leveraging diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of the unjustly detained journalist.
CFWIJ has been closely monitoring Kurmasheva’s unjust detention. The following timeline provides a detailed recap of major events:
2024
August 1
Alsu Kurmasheva, who had been imprisoned in Russia for ten months, is finally free. Her release was part of a high-profile prisoner swap involving the U.S. and Germany, which also saw the freedom of American journalist Evan Gershkovich and Russian political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza. Their release marks a significant victory for human rights and press freedom advocates, underscoring successful diplomatic efforts to address complex international issue
July 19
Kurmasheva is sentenced to six and a half years in prison by a Russian court in Kazan. The trial is conducted secretly, with Kurmasheva unjustly convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military. Women Press Freedom condemns this conviction following a farcical trial.This harsh sentence coincides with the sentencing of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, further highlighting Russia's crackdown on independent journalism. Women Press Freedom demands Kurmasheva's immediate release and calls for international condemnation of Russia's actions against journalists.
June 18
The Supreme Court of Tatarstan once again rejects an appeal from Alsu's defense team, which sought to have her released under house arrest due to her health and the non-violent nature of her charges. The prosecution maintains that Alsu's US citizenship and EU residency disqualify her from being eligible for house arrest.
May 31
Court extends the detention of Kurmasheva until August 5. Her defense's request to change her preventive measure to house arrest is denied. During the court session, attended by Australian and Czech embassy representatives, the press and diplomatic staff are only allowed to enter the courtroom during deliberation. Kurmasheva tells reporters her health is deteriorating and she requires surgery. She is not allowed to make calls, and hasn’t heard her children’s voices since she was taken into custody seven months ago. The journalist also shares drawings sent to her by children, which she cherishes as her only glimpse of nature.
April 1
The Sovetsky District Court of Kazan extends Kurmasheva’s pre-trial detention until June 5, 2024. The court continues to reject her request to be transferred to house arrest. The journalist tells the media at the hearing that her “certain diagnoses have worsened” and she “is not very well physically, her living conditions are very bad.”
February 20
The Supreme Court of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan rules that Kurmasheva will continue to be held in pretrial detention, despite her lawyers' request for house arrest citing health concerns, among other issues. The judge, Olga Migunova, denies the request but reduces Kurmasheva's pretrial detention period by one day, from April 5 to at least April 4. Kurmasheva participates in the hearing via video link from a detention center.
February 1
Alsu’s detention is extended by a Russian court in Kazan until April 5. The Sovetsky District Court held a closed-door hearing, allowing press presence only during the decision announcement. Kurmasheva's lawyer sought a change in preventive measures to house arrest, but the request was denied. Representatives from the embassies of Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands were present at the court hearing
2023
December 12
New criminal cases are filed against Kurmasheva. State-controlled Tatar-Inform news agency and the Baza Telegram report that she is facing accusations of disseminating "fake" news about Russia's armed forces, a charge carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. This legal action stems from her involvement with a book titled "Saying No To War: 40 Stories Of Russians Who Oppose The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine," published in November 2022 by RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service. Earlier the same day, the Supreme Court of Tatarstan confirms a lower court's December 1 decision to extend Kurmasheva’s pretrial detention, though by one day less, until February 4, 2024.
December 10
A protest is held in Kazan against the crackdown on independent journalists in Russia, including Kurmasheva. Participants display signs including "Alsu Kurmasheva is a journalist, not a criminal" and "No one should lose their life for the right to speak the truth." Security forces intervene, confiscating any banners referencing the detained RFE/RL journalist.
December 4
An appeal lodged by Kurmasheva's legal team against a prior court ruling in October, which imposed a 10,000 ruble fine for her "failure to inform Russian officials about holding a second citizenship," was dismissed by a court in Kazan. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom, along with fourteen leading press freedom organizations, calls upon U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for decisive action. A group of U.S. Representatives co-signs a letter urging the U.S. State Department to declare that the Russian government has wrongfully detained Alsu Kurmasheva.
December 1
Kurmasheva’s pretrial detention is extended until February 5, 2024. In response, RFE/RL acting President Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin says: “Alsu has spent 45 days behind bars in Russia and, today, her unjust, politically-motivated detention has been extended. We call on Russian authorities to immediately grant Alsu consular access, which is her right as a U.S. citizen. Alsu must be released and reunited with her family.”
November 14
The United States State Department says Russian authorities have not responded to their request for consular access to Kurmasheva.
"I face both illness and obstacles with a clear countenance" — Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva adapted Gabdulla Tukay's 1912 poem "Enemies" to contemporary Tatar while in detention.
November 11
Kurmasheva’s husband Pavel Butorin tells the Associated Press he believes his wife was imprisoned “because she is a journalist with Radio Free Europe and she is an American citizen.” He expresses his desire for the United States government to designate Alsu as “a wrongfully detained person to ensure her speedy release from Russian detention.”
November 1
The United States government says it is focused on securing consular access to Kurmasheva.
October 31
The Supreme Court of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan denies an appeal filed by Kurmasheva against her pretrial detention. Her lawyer had requested alternative pretrial restrictions, but the request was rejected.
October 23
In a closed court session, Kurmasheva is ordered to remain in detention until at least December 5, highlighting the severity of the charges against her.
October 19
The United States State Department says it is aware of reports of Kurmasheva’s detention, but it has not received official notification from Russia.
October 18
The RFE/EL editor is detained by the police in Kazan, Russia, on charges of failing to register as a "foreign agent."
October 11
Kurmasheva is fined 10,000 rubles ($103) for not registering her U.S. passport with Russian authorities.
June 2
As Kurmasheva awaits her return flight to the Czech Republic at Kazan airport, she is briefly detained. Both her passports (US and Russian) are seized. Unable to depart from Russia, she awaits the return of her travel documents.
May 20
Alsu Kurmasheva travels to Kazan, Russia from her home in the Czech Republic for a family emergency.
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.
July 19
Kurmasheva is sentenced to six and a half years in prison by a Russian court in Kazan. The trial is conducted secretly, with Kurmasheva unjustly convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military. Women Press Freedom condemns this conviction following a farcical trial.This harsh sentence coincides with the sentencing of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, further highlighting Russia's crackdown on independent journalism. Women Press Freedom demands Kurmasheva's immediate release and calls for international condemnation of Russia's actions against journalists.
June 18
The Supreme Court of Tatarstan once again rejects an appeal from Alsu's defense team, which sought to have her released under house arrest due to her health and the non-violent nature of her charges. The prosecution maintains that Alsu's US citizenship and EU residency disqualify her from being eligible for house arrest.