1. Teen girl killed in Siberia
2. Former POW in Ukraine identified.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia has dismissed an appeal by Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with RFE/RL, against the decision to prolong her pretrial detention. Judge Rizvan Yusupov upheld the previous ruling by the Soviet district court in Kazan, extending Kurmasheva’s detention until at least August 5.
Kurmasheva, a journalist based in Prague and holding both U.S. and Russian citizenships, has been in Russian custody since October 18, 2023. She is facing charges of violating the “foreign agent” law and spreading false information about the Russian military, which could result in a 10-year prison sentence. Kurmasheva, her employer, and supporters deny these accusations.
During the recent hearing on May 31, Kurmasheva highlighted her deteriorating health condition and the urgent need for surgery. She also mentioned the heartbreaking fact that she last heard her daughters’ voices back in October 2023.
Having worked for RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir Service for over 25 years, Kurmasheva left Prague in mid-May 2023 due to a family emergency in Tatarstan. While waiting for her return flight on June 2, 2023, at Kazan airport, she was briefly detained, and her passports and phone were confiscated. Following five months of uncertainty, she was fined 10,000 rubles ($112) for not registering her U.S. passport with Russian authorities.
Unable to leave Russia without her travel documents, Kurmasheva was detained again in October and charged with failure to register as a “foreign agent.” Two months later, she faced additional charges of spreading falsehoods about the Russian military.
The U.S. government and RFE/RL have condemned the charges against Kurmasheva, labeling them as retribution for her journalistic work. On June 17, U.S. State Department spokesman Mathew Miller reiterated calls for Russia to release Kurmasheva immediately.
While expressing concerns over the closed trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich for alleged espionage, Miller emphasized the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to attend the upcoming court hearing. The U.S. government and The Wall Street Journal have strongly denied the espionage charges against Gershkovich, who faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Russian authorities have failed to provide evidence supporting the espionage allegations against Gershkovich, who was arrested during a reporting assignment in Yekaterinburg in March 2023. The trial, scheduled to commence on June 26, is set to be held behind closed doors.
Analysts and Western officials suspect Russia of detaining U.S. citizens for potential prisoner exchanges or other geopolitical motives. There are speculations that Russia may seek the release of Vadim Krasikov, serving a life sentence in Germany for the 2019 killing of Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili, a Georgian citizen with Chechen roots.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments in February hinted at a potential link between Gershkovich’s case and Krasikov’s incarceration in Germany. Putin referred to Krasikov as the individual imprisoned by a U.S. ally for eliminating a “bandit” responsible for alleged attacks on Russian soldiers in Chechnya.
In conclusion, the situation involving Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich underscores the complex dynamics surrounding the treatment of journalists and foreign citizens in Russia. The ongoing legal proceedings and diplomatic efforts will continue to shape the narrative surrounding these cases. The international community remains vigilant in advocating for the rights and fair treatment of individuals caught in such circumstances..
1. Suspected killing teen girl Siberia identified former POW Ukraine
2. Man suspected killing teen girl Siberia identified former POW Ukraine.
