A Russian-American journalist associated with a U.S. state-funded media outlet, Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has been arrested in Russia on charges of not registering as a foreign agent, as reported by her employer.
Alsu Kurmasheva becomes the second American journalist taken into custody in Russia this year, following the arrest of Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich on spying allegations in March.
Kurmasheva, who worked for the Tatar-Bashkir division of RFE/RL, is currently in a provisional detention facility, as stated by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Footage released by Tatar-Inform shows her being escorted into a building by four individuals, two of whom forcefully held her.
The agency claimed she was gathering data about Russia’s military activities, potentially for foreign entities, hinting at her procuring details about university faculty conscripted into the Russian military.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, she has been charged with not registering as a foreign agent while collecting information on Russian military operations.
Local authorities believe this information could compromise Russia’s national security. If found guilty, Kurmasheva could face up to five years in jail.
Jeffrey Gedmin, Acting President of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, vouched for her integrity and urged for her immediate release to reunite with her family.
Kurmasheva, who resides in Prague, was detained at Kazan International Airport on June 2nd after arriving in Russia on May 20th due to a family emergency.
Her Russian and U.S. passports were seized, and she was fined for not registering her U.S. passport. While awaiting the return of her passports, she was slapped with the foreign agent registration charge, as per RFE/RL.
