In a concerted effort, prominent human rights and press freedom organizations have rallied behind Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with dual US and Russian citizenship, urging US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take swift action in her case. Kurmasheva, associated with the Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Liberty, has been detained in Kazan, Russia, since late October, facing charges under Russia’s “foreign agents” law.
Organizations including Reporters Without Borders, the Coalition of Women in Journalism, the National Press Club, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and others have collectively called for the US to declare Kurmasheva “wrongfully detained.” This appeal comes amid concerns that Russia has not formally notified the US State Department of her detention, hindering her access to US consular support.
Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders Americas, emphasized that Kurmasheva is a casualty of Russia’s crackdown on journalism and its geopolitical tensions with the US. He urged the Kremlin to release her and drop the charges, advocating for the State Department’s intervention.
The designation of “wrongfully detained” by the US would initiate formal efforts for Kurmasheva’s release. She faces accusations of failing to register as a “foreign agent” with Russian authorities, marking the first instance of a journalist being criminally charged under this law in Russia.
Kurmasheva has been a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty since the late 1990s, focusing on cultural and ethnic rights issues in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. Her work has highlighted efforts to protect Tatar language and culture against increasing pressure from Russian authorities. Before her arrest, she resided in Prague with her family, visiting Kazan for family reasons in mid-May. Her detention at Kazan airport in June led to the confiscation of her passports and subsequent legal challenges.
The international community, including the governments of France, Canada, the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, the EU, the European Parliament, the OSCE, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, have condemned her detention. The Council of Europe’s Platform for promoting journalism protection and safety also issued a call for her release.
Canada strongly condemns Russia's arrest of Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva for allegedly failing to register as a 'foreign agent'. We join with @UNHumanRights and others in calling for her immediate release.
— Human Rights (@RightsGAC) October 19, 2023
I call for the immediate release of @RFERL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was detained yesterday in Kazan, Russia, and cannot return to her family in Prague. The official reason is that she failed to register as a "foreign agent." https://t.co/QEuW3H6dI1
— Jan Lipavský (@JanLipavsky) October 19, 2023
A scandalous detention of @RFERL journalist Alsu #Kurmasheva is another proof that Russia must be isolated from the civilised world.
We call for the immediate release. pic.twitter.com/2krWBdHnbc
— Poland in the EU (@PLPermRepEU) October 19, 2023
Sweden calls on Russia to immediately release Alsu Kurmasheva. Russia’s ‘foreign agents’ laws are part of a hostile legal framework designed to curtail freedom of opinion and expression in Russia. https://t.co/jkcACBhEkK
— Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (@SweMFA) October 20, 2023
The EU condemns the detention of Alsu Kurmasheva, journalist with @rferl and dual US/Russian citizen.
Journalists must be protected & allowed to exercise their profession freely.
Russia must respect its international human rights obligations, including the freedom of expression.— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 19, 2023
Concerned with Russia’s detention of @RFERL journalist and editor Alsu Kurmasheva in Kazan.
Being a journalist is not a crime. It’s a duty. It's crucial in democracies.
On behalf of @Europarl_EN, I call for her immediate release to rejoin her family and children. pic.twitter.com/9JwsaIPZy1
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) October 20, 2023
I am dismayed by the recent arrest and harassment of @RFERL editor, Alsu Kurmasheva, in Kazan #Russia. It once again underscores the oppressive nature of ‘foreign agents’ and other laws, which obstruct the vital work of journalists. I call for Kurmasheva’s immediate release.
— OSCE media freedom (@OSCE_RFoM) October 20, 2023
#Russia: We are concerned by the detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva for allegedly failing to register as a “foreign agent†and call for her prompt and unconditional release. Journalists must be left to do their vital work free from pressure, intimidation and reprisals. pic.twitter.com/3YjbCZkdbo
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) October 19, 2023
Kurmasheva’s case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by journalists globally, particularly in environments where press freedoms are under threat. The international outcry and the call for US intervention reflect the broader concerns about the safety and rights of journalists worldwide.
