Russian-American journalist charged in Russia with failing to register as a ‘foreign agent’

By The Associated Press

A Russian-American journalist working for a U.S. government-funded media company has been detained in Russia and charged with failing to register as a “foreign agent.” Alsu Kurmasheva, who’s an editor for Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, is the second U.S. journalist to be detained in Russia this year. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for alleged spying in March. Russian state news agency Tatar-Inform says authorities accused Kurmasheva of collecting information about Russia’s military activities “in order to transmit information to foreign sources.” The Committee to Protect Journalists said Kurmasheva could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, if convicted.