U.S. Embassy Demands Release of Jailed Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has called for the release of Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who was sentenced to over six years in prison by a Russian court. The embassy described Kurmasheva as a principled journalist dedicated to truth and objective reporting.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has urged Russia to release Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist working for U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), who was sentenced to six and a half years in prison by a Russian court last week. The embassy has described Kurmasheva as 'a principled journalist uncompromisingly committed to the truth and objective reporting.'

Her sentencing, which was made public on Monday, has been called 'a sad day for journalism in Russia' by the embassy.

Kurmasheva was convicted of spreading false information about the Russian army, a charge she has denied.

(With inputs from agencies.)