Russian Court Extends Pre-Trial Detention of US Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva Until December

Kurmasheva faces up to 5 years in prison for accusingly violating Russia's 'foreign agent' laws, marking the first criminal case under the military activities provision against a journalist.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist and U.S.-Russian dual citizen, Alsu Kurmasheva, had her pre-trial detention by Russian authorities extended until December 5. This follows her arrest for allegedly violating Russia's 'foreign agent' laws.
The charges against Kurmasheva, who covers Russia's Volga-Ural region from Prague, marks the first known criminal case under the military activities provision of the 'foreign agent' law to be brought against a journalist.
Kurmasheva was first detained in June while travelling to Russia for family reasons. After her passports were confiscated by authorities, she was re-arrested last week.
Russia's 'foreign agent' laws have been widely criticized by human rights activists as a means to stifle opposition to President Vladimir Putin's policies and intimidate journalists and non-governmental organizations.
Kurmasheva's arrest is the second detention of a U.S. journalist by Russia this year, following Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's arrest on espionage charges in March.