Russia Convicts American Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva

Journalist Faces Imprisonment for Work with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Updated 2:47 PM PDT July 22, 2024

In a move that has drawn international condemnation, a Russian court has convicted Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist working for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Kurmasheva, who has been held in Russia since April on charges of "justifying terrorism," faces up to six years in prison.

The conviction stems from Kurmasheva's reporting on the war in Ukraine, which the Russian government has repeatedly tried to suppress. Kurmasheva's articles have been critical of the Russian regime and have exposed human rights abuses committed by Russian forces.

RFE/RL has denounced the conviction as a "blatant attempt to silence independent journalism" and has called for Kurmasheva's immediate release.