Washington D.C./19.10.23/Turan: Russia has recently detained a second U.S. journalist of the year, escalating its campaign to hold Americans hostage as it proceeds to invade Ukraine, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor with RFE/RL Tatar-Bashkir Service, has been charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. She was reportedly detained in Kazan.
RFE/RL condemned Moscow's action. “She needs to be released so she can return to her family immediately," said the organization’s acting President Jeffrey Gedmin.
“Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children,”Gedmin added. “She needs to be released so she can return to her family immediately.”
Washington-based National Press Club said in a statement that Kurmasheva is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Russia. She visited Russia on a family emergency in May and was stopped upon exit in June and her passports were arrested.
“Journalism is not a crime. Alsu Kurmasheva is a distinguished journalist and a beloved member of her community. Her detention is categorically unjust and she should be released immediately,” said USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett.
Moscow has not yet officially notified Washington about the arrest of Kurmasheva, the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday, adding that her treatment appears to reflect Russian harassment.
Asked by TURAN's Washington correspondent why the Department hadn't designated Kurmasheva as "ongfully detained" Miller said, they've been working on this case quietly. "I’m not going to speak to all of those efforts, but it is something we’ve been focused on. But she was just arrested, according to reports; again, we’ve not been officially notified or had contact with her just in the past 24 hours."
Miller went on to add, "No American citizen should travel to Russia for any reason. It’s quite risky to do so. We’ve seen American citizens detained for no reason, arrested for no reason"
Alex Raufoglu
Politics
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