CPJ is honored to present its 2024 International Press Freedom Award to U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, is a journalist and editor at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). She first joined the outlet in 1998 as a radio program moderator.
Throughout her career, Kurmasheva has covered cultural and human rights issues affecting ethnic minority communities in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in the Volga-Ural region of Russia. In addition, she has also reported extensively on gender issues, leading reporting projects on domestic violence, and women’s human rights.
In October 2023, Kurmasheva was detained in Russia on charges of failing to register as a “foreign agent.” In December 2023, she was also charged with disseminating “false” information about the Russian military stemming from her alleged involvement in the distribution of a book based on stories from residents in Russia’s southwestern Volga region who oppose the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kurmasheva was held for more than nine months before she was convicted on charges of spreading “fake” news about the Russian army and sentenced to 6½ years in prison. In August 2024, Kurmasheva was released as part of a prisoner exchange, which included the release of fellow American journalist Evan Gershkovich.
Kurmasheva’s conviction by Russian authorities on spurious charges was in retaliation for her journalism. Her case is representative of Russia’s continued attacks on the press in an effort to stifle independent reporting, both within its borders and through transnational repression. Kurmasheva’s case demonstrates how Russian authorities weaponize the law to silence its critics, most notably journalists critical of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Although Kurmasheva’s release is a welcome development for her family, colleagues, and press freedom advocates worldwide, Russia continues its efforts to suppress a free press. Kurmasheva’s plight underscores why Moscow must release all jailed journalists and end its campaign of using in absentia arrest warrants and sentences against exiled Russian journalists.
The text of Alsu Kurmasheva’s acceptance speech, as prepared for delivery, is below.
Good evening.
To say it’s unbelievable to be here is not an exaggeration. Just a few months ago, it was something I would not have believed.
In fact, it was exactly one year ago today – November twenty first 2023 – when I made a little lighthouse out of snow in a Russian prison courtyard. That day, I remember collecting every snowflake in the 6-by-9-foot area and shaping them into a lighthouse with my thin gloves. For the light, I found a yellow candy wrapper in my pocket and placed it on top.
I tried not to look up as the snow was falling because I couldn’t bear seeing the many layers of barbed wire between me and the gray sky.
Those were the darkest days of my life. Deep in my heart and mind, I knew I was free. I knew I was innocent. I was wrongfully detained simply for being an American journalist and doing my job well.
Even though I held onto that belief every minute of my imprisonment, the harsh conditions, constant humiliation and intimidation, and fear of losing my sanity sometimes took over….[pause]
Standing here today with this award is something I never dreamed would happen. The only award I’ve ever dreamed of was the satisfaction of serving my audience – to bring accurate and uncensored news to my ethnic minority – the Tatars – in our native language.
This award is an acknowledgment of the important job we do at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. For nearly 75 years, we’ve been a lifeline for hundreds of millions of people who can’t get independent news because of government censorship. And our mission is more important than ever.
I want to share the honor of this award tonight with my RFE/RL colleagues who are spending the night behind bars for the so-called “crime” of journalism:
Vladyslav Yesypenko who has been held in Russian-controlled Crimea for more than three years.
Andrey Kuznechyk and Ihar Losik, who have been imprisoned in Belarus for more than three years.
And Farid Mehralizada who was arrested six months ago in Azerbaijan.
It’s his birthday tomorrow. Happy birthday, Farid. You are not alone!
I am also concerned about my former colleague Reza Valizadeh’s detention in Iran.
My colleagues are not just statistics. Like me, they’re real human beings with families who miss and love them.
There are dozens of other journalists languishing in Russian jails. They should be released at once.
To my own family, especially my husband, Pavel, I can’t thank you enough for the love and support for everything you’ve done for me and the girls over the past year…
To my RFE/RL colleagues, thank you for your tireless advocacy to let the world know about my case.
And to my fellow journalists in this room, I owe an enormous debt of gratitude. Even in prison, I could feel the solidarity from the journalism community, especially CPJ. Thank you for your tireless advocacy.
Maybe I didn’t realize at the time that building the little snow lighthouse was probably not an act of insanity…Now that I think about it, I believe it was a symbol of freedom.
As journalists, we can shine the light of truth into the darkest corners of the world.
It’s an awesome responsibility to be a beacon of light, and my story is an example of the price that can be paid for reporting the truth…but I personally won’t stop doing my job and I trust nobody here tonight will either.
Journalism is not a crime.
Thank you.