Russian-American Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva Sentenced to 6-1/2 Years in Prison for Spreading False Information

Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva has been sentenced to 6-1/2 years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army, a court in Kazan revealed on Monday. The court spokesperson stated that Kurmasheva was sentenced following two days of court proceedings. Her lawyer’s response to a potential appeal and the U.S. embassy’s comment on the matter are still pending.

Kurmasheva, who works for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and is based in Prague, has been held since October 18 when she was arrested while visiting family in Tatarstan. Her arrest is believed to be related to a book she edited titled “Saying No to War. 40 Stories of Russians Who Oppose the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.”

Her husband, Pavel Butorin, also an RFE/RL employee, has expressed his belief in her innocence, stating, “My daughters and I know Alsu has done nothing wrong. And the world knows it too. We need her home.”

Kurmasheva’s case is one of several involving American citizens in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage in a trial held behind closed doors. The U.S. has called Gershkovich’s trial a sham and is working to secure his release.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus has condemned Kurmasheva’s trial and conviction, calling it “a mockery of justice” and urging for her immediate release. The organization, funded by the U.S. Congress, has faced backlash from Russia, which has designated it as a “foreign agent” and an “undesirable” organization.

The case highlights the deteriorating relations between Russia and the West since the Cold War, with Moscow imposing harsh penalties on individuals critical of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Butorin has petitioned for the U.S. government to designate Kurmasheva as wrongfully detained to facilitate diplomatic efforts for her release.