A court in Russia announced on Monday the conviction of Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian American editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, sentencing her to six and a half years in a penal colony. The charges against her included spreading false information about the Russian army. The conviction occurred last Friday and was initially reported by The Associated Press.
Similarly, Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was sentenced to 16 years in a higher-security penal colony on espionage charges by a different Russian court. Both Gershkovich, his employer, and the American government have denied the accusations.
The case against Ms. Kurmasheva was heard in Kazan, a major Russian city located 500 miles east of Moscow. The proceedings took place rapidly and behind closed doors, reminiscent of Mr. Gershkovich’s case. The court records indicate that there were only two hearings before Judge Ilfir Z. Salikhov delivered the verdict on Friday. The entire case was processed in less than 10 days.
The swift convictions of both Ms. Kurmasheva and Mr. Gershkovich have led to speculation that the Russian government might be considering a potential prisoner swap with the United States. Russian officials have hinted at ongoing discreet discussions with the U.S. regarding Gershkovich. However, any exchange of prisoners is expected to occur only after a final verdict is reached.
Back in May, President Biden publicly called on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to release both Ms. Kurmasheva and Mr. Gershkovich. He assured that the American government was actively engaged in efforts to secure their return, alongside other individuals detained in Russia.
Ms. Kurmasheva was found guilty of the charge of “spreading false information about the Russian army,” a common tactic used by Russian authorities to silence dissent regarding the invasion of Ukraine. Natalia Loseva, a court spokeswoman, refrained from providing additional details due to the classified nature of the case.
