On June 26, News/Media Alliance joined a letter addressed to President Joseph R. Biden asking for journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to be declared as wrongfully detained. Kurmasheva, who has been held in Russia since October 2023, currently has a case with the Consular Affairs division of the State Department, which handles cases of those who have committed or been charged with crimes. The letter asks that Kumasheva be declared wrongfully detained so that her case can be transferred to the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty journalist, is the second U.S. journalist to be detailed in Russia since 2023 – after Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal who was detained in early 2023. Designating Kurmasheva’s case as wrongful would open additional resources to help secure her release. The letter, led by the National Press Club and joined by numerous other press freedom organizations, calls for increased transparency from the government and swift action on behalf of Kurmasheva. Read more.
Rhyia Bibby is a Law Clerk at the News/Media Alliance.
