JAWS urges State Department to designate U.S. journalist Alsu Kurmasheva wrongfully detained by Russia

A November 27 letter signed by 14 civil society groups, including the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS), urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to declare Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Alsu Kurmasheva wrongfully detained.

Kurmasheva, a U.S. and Russian national, was barred from leaving Russia and put in detention in October after traveling to Russia on personal business to attend to her ailing mother.

“We are concerned this is part of a growing pattern of the Russian government attempting to silence journalism through detention,” reads the letter. “We must push back immediately at what this is — a brazen attempt to silent and punish journalists.”

Read the full letter below.