Journalists in Trouble is a monthly report of incidents targeting Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists and their work, and developments affecting press freedom across 23 countries. Subscribe for exclusive updates. 

RUSSIA: Alsu Kurmasheva Released from Russian Custody in Historic Prisoner Swap

RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was released from Russian custody and returned to the United States in a historic prisoner exchange on August 1. Alsu reunited with her family on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, alongside Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, detained by the Kremlin for 16 months, and Paul Whelan, detained in 2018.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said: “We welcome news of Alsu’s release and are grateful to the American government and all who worked tirelessly to end her unjust treatment by Russia. Alsu was targeted because she was an American journalist who was simply trying to take care of a family member inside Russia. She did nothing wrong and certainly did not deserve the unjust treatment and forced separation from her loving family members and colleagues.”

Alsu’s husband, Pavel Butorin said: “Today, my daughters and I are witnessing a historic act of resolve and compassion by the U.S. government and its allies, demonstrating that the free world values human life and family above all else, even when it means exchanging real criminals and spies to save wrongfully detained Americans.”

Alsu’s release came days after she was convicted and sentenced by a Russian court to 6.5 years in prison for “spreading false information” about Russia’s military. Capus called the trial, which took place secretly in the Russian city of Kazan, “a mockery of justice.”

RFE/RL thanks the U.S. government for its commitment to freeing Americans wrongfully detained abroad. RFE/RL is also grateful to the National Press Club, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Foley Foundation, and many more in the press freedom and journalistic community for their support to free Alsu.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• “I’m finally in good hands after months of being denied basic professional medical care. I’m finally being treated as a human being.” Alsu Kurmasheva spoke to CNN’s Jake Tapper and RFE/RL’s Mike Eckel about her imprisonment and return home in her first interviews since being released from Russian custody.
• “My sister and I are so over the moon and happy to have her back. It’s unbelievable how much we missed her.” Alsu’s 16-year-old daughter Bibi Butorin reacts to her mother’s release on PBS News Hour.

As RFE/RL celebrates Alsu’s release, the fight continues to free her colleagues who remain behind bars for simply doing their jobs: Andrey Kuznechyk and Ihar Losik in Belarus, and Vladyslav Yesypenko in Russia-occupied Crimea.

TAKE ACTION: We encourage you to join the call to #FreeAndrey, #FreeIhar, and #FreeVlad on social media using this downloadable graphic.  

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• “Families have been ripped apart, and it’s just disgraceful. It’s time for Belarus and Russia to release these three.” RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus went on CNN’s The Lead to raise awareness about the three other RFE/RL journalists still unjustly imprisoned abroad. Read more about their cases in the latest from Jon Allsop in the Columbia Journalism Review: Evan and Alsu are free. Vladyslav, Ihar, and Andrey are not.
• On the anniversary of imprisoned RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik’s arrest, RFE/RL and Freedom House co-hosted a virtual discussion on the practice of incommunicado detention in Belarus. Watch a recording of the event here.

UNITED STATES: RFE/RL President Testifies Before Congress

On July 9, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus testified before Congress, where he highlighted the importance of RFE/RL’s work in countries where press freedom is under threat, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia, and the dangers journalists face for doing their jobs.

“RFE/RL is unlike most any other news organization. Everywhere we work, we’re in the thick of it. While other news organizations parachute in to cover a story a day or two and then go back to their safe homes, our people are already home. They’re firmly in place in some of the most difficult, dangerous places imaginable,” Capus said.  

KAZAKHSTAN: New Media Law Threatens Press Freedom

In June, Kazakhstan’s president signed a new law with far-reaching repercussions for media in the country, including RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service, Radio Azattyq. Press freedom and human rights organizations have condemned the new law, warning of the dangers it poses to freedom of expression and information. Notably, the new law grants the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the ability to unilaterally deny accreditation to journalists working for foreign media outlets.

My name is Deniz Yuksel, Advocacy Manager here at RFE/RL and the author of Journalists in Trouble. Thank you for reading our newsletter and for standing with persecuted journalists.

If you are interested in collaborating to amplify the stories of our imprisoned journalists, you can reach me by emailing advocacy@rferl.org.