By 
24-03-2024
Innocenti Chiara
Europe Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defense
Kazan, Russia, March 21st, 2024 – The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan overturned a local lower court’s ruling that imposed a fine on sociologist and columnist Iskander Yasaveyev for demanding the release of an RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, holding a placard in protest.
On June 2nd of the previous year, Alsu Lurmasheva, an experienced reporter based in Prague with dual US and Russian citizenship, was arrested in Kazan while awaiting her return flight to Czechoslovakia. She had briefly returned to her home due to a family emergency, only to have her passport and smartphone seized, effectively preventing her from leaving the country. On October 11th, she was fined 10,000 rubles for “failing to inform Russian authorities about holding a second citizenship” and was later detained under accusations of disseminating false information about the Russian Army and failing to register as a foreign agent. In Russia’s current judicial system, the latter charge is particularly significant. Under Article 1 of the Federal Law. 255-F3 from 2022, the expression “inostrannye agenty” (foreign agent) refers to any legal and natural person receiving foreign financial aid or influence while carrying out a political activity, which includes collecting information on national military or military-technical matters. This legal framework, combined with the escalating Ukrainian conflict, has facilitated the imprisonment of journalists committed to promoting free access to information.
Following the crisis in Ukraine, Russian journalism – which has long been under the strict control of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) – has faced an unprecedented crackdown. The news of Iskander Yasaveyev’s case adds to the growing concern that the safeguarding of freedom of expression in Russia is increasingly under threat.
Sources and further reading:
(February 7, 2023). Russian authorities seek 9-year prison term for journalist Maria Ponomarenko, detain RFE/RL columnist Iskander Yasaveyev. The Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved on March 23, 2024, from
https://cpj.org/2023/02/russian-authorities-seek-9-year-prison-term-for-journalist-maria-ponomarenko-detain-rfe-rl-columnist-iskander-yasaveyev/.
(March 21, 2024). Tatarstan Court Cancels Fine of Activist Who supported Detained RFE/RL Journalist. Radio Free Europe: Radio Liberty. Retrieved on March 22, 2024, from
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tatarstan-detained-rferl-journalist-alsu-/32871429.html.
(July 14, 2022). Federalnij zakon o kontrole za dejatel’nost’ju liz, nachodjaŠichtsa pod inostrannym vljaniem. Konsul’tantPljus. Retrieved on March 22, 2024, from
https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_421788/89a28a19ff8ce42b25d0755bce97b44b6f220b0c/.
(March 14, 2024). Glava čexii prizval Rossiju jsvobodit’ Alsu KurmaŠevu”. Radio Svoboda. Retrieved on March 22, 2024, from
https://www.svoboda.org/a/glava-mid-chehii-prizval-rossiyu-osvoboditj-alsu-kurmashevu/32861232.html.
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