The pre-trial custody of US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who was detained for not registering as a “foreign agent,” was prolonged by a Russian court on Friday until February 5.
Both Russian and American nationals, Kurmasheva was employed for the US-funded media organization Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) when she was taken into custody by police in Kazan, the capital, in October.
“A court in Kazan extended the detention of Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until February 5, 2024,” RFE/RL reported on Friday.
Later, the Sovetsky district court in Kazan’s press office confirmed to AFP that she was being held longer.
She is the second American journalist detained in Russia this year as Moscow escalates its campaign against the West while waging war on the Ukrainian people.
The pre-trial custody of Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich, who was detained earlier this week on suspicion of espionage, was prolonged by a Moscow court.
Kurmasheva was accused of neglecting to register as a “foreign agent.” Kurmasheva resides in Prague with her spouse and two kids.
Both her and Gershkovich deny the charges against them. Kurmasheva faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.
“Alsu has spent 45 days behind bars in Russia and, today, her unjust, politically-motivated detention has been extended,” RFE/RL acting President Dr Jeffrey Gedmin said.
He also called on Russia to grant Kurmasheva consular access to US diplomats and said she “must be released and reunited with her family.”
Russia has launched a broad crackdown on independent media outlets operating within the nation, utilizing contentious “foreign agents” legislation.
The regulations mandate that entities and persons classified as “foreign agents,” a designation that carries echoes of Soviet-era espionage, label all of their publications and provide the Russian government with reports on their operations.
It also requires any Russian citizens to self-register if they engage in activity that poses a threat to Russia’s “national security.”
Kurmasheva was arrested in October after initially having her passports confiscated in June when she travelled to Russia for a family emergency.
The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Wednesday for the US State Department to designate Kurmasheva as “wrongfully detained”, a move which would trigger more intensive diplomatic efforts in Washington to secure her release.
Critics have accused Russia of indiscriminately arresting US passport holders to swap them for Russians jailed in the United States.
