USAGM CEO condemns Russia’s decision to extend detention of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva

1 December 2023

USAGM CEO condemns Russia’s decision to extend detention of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva

Today, a court in the Russian city of Kazan extended by two months, or until February 5, the detention of Alsu Kurmasheva, a veteran journalist from RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir Service who has been in Russian custody since October 18. Kurmasheva has been unjustly charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

“Every day that Alsu Kurmasheva remains behind bars is a tragedy for her husband and two young children, her community, and journalists everywhere. As an American political prisoner being held in Russia, it is crucial for Alsu to officially be designated as ‘wrongfully detained’ so that her case can receive the time and attention it deserves,” said USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett.

“Alsu has spent 45 days behind bars in Russia and, today, her unjust, politically motivated detention has been extended,” said RFE/RL acting President Jeffrey Gedmin. “We call on Russian authorities to immediately grant Alsu consular access, which is her right as a U.S. citizen. Alsu must be released and reunited with her family.”

Kurmasheva is a dual U.S. and Russian citizen who lives in Prague, Czech Republic, with her husband and children.

[Source: USAGM press release]

RFE/RL Appoints Stephen Capus as Acting President

6 November 2023

RFE/RL Appoints Stephen Capus as Acting President

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Board of Directors has named Stephen Capus as the company’s Acting President, effective January 1, 2024. Board Vice Chairperson Margaret Hoover and Nominations Committee Chairperson Kristin Lord led the rigorous search process for the company.

Capus will serve in an acting capacity until the International Broadcasting Advisory Board is confirmed by the U.S. Senate and can vote on his appointment.

“We are very pleased that Steve has agreed to lead RFE/RL at this important moment in the company’s history,” said Board Chair Ambassador Karen Kornbluh. “He brings both distinguished experience as a senior manager in the news industry and a deep understanding of RFE/RL.”

Capus has more than 25 years of network news management, production, and journalistic experience. The former President of NBC News, Capus was also the Executive Producer of NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, The News with Brian Williams, and CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. In recent years, Capus has provided strategic advice as a consultant to RFE/RL in Prague and its grantor agency, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

Margaret Hoover added, “Steve’s vast experience as a journalist, producer, and news executive make him an exceptionally qualified choice to lead RFE/RL’s outstanding international team of journalists in these challenging times.”

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to lead RFE/RL as it remains steadfast in its mission as one of the world’s most trusted sources of independent news and information,” said Capus. “I look forward to continuing the dedicated work of RFE/RL’s existing leader, Jeff Gedmin, and in particular his important efforts to secure the release of four RFE/RL journalists who are unjustly detained.”

Capus will replace Jamie Fly, who stepped down from his position in the summer of 2023. Since July, Board Member Jeff Gedmin has led RFE/RL in an acting capacity.

About RFE/RL

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, independent international news organization whose programs — radio, Internet, television, and mobile — reach influential audiences in 23 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through USAGM.

[Source: RFE/RL press release]

RFE/RL Condemns Detention of Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in Russia

19 October 2023

RFE/RL Condemns Detention of Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in Russia

On October 18, authorities in Kazan, Russia, detained Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Tatar-Bashkir Service. Kurmasheva has been charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

“Alsu is a highly respected colleague, devoted wife, and dedicated mother to two children,” said RFE/RL acting President Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin. “She needs to be released so she can return to her family immediately.” Kurmasheva is a dual U.S. and Russian citizen who lives in Prague, Czech Republic, with her husband and children.

Kurmasheva traveled to Russia for a family emergency on May 20. She was temporarily detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2. Authorities at Kazan airport confiscated Kurmasheva’s U.S. and Russian passports. She was subsequently fined for failure to register her U.S. passport with Russian authorities. She was awaiting the return of her passports when the new charge was announced on October 18.

Kurmasheva is an accomplished journalist who has long covered ethnic minority communities in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in the Volga-Ural region of Russia. She has reported on initiatives to protect and preserve the Tatar language and culture from Russian authorities, who have exerted increased pressure on Tatars in recent years.

Since 2012, Russia has used foreign agent laws to punish perceived government critics who receive funding from abroad or are deemed to be “under foreign influence,” including civil society groups, media outlets, independent journalists, and activists.

[Source: RFE/RL press release; photo credit Pangea Graphics RFE/RL]

Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service unblocked

17 July 2023

Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service unblocked

Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service has reported that it is no longer blocked in Kyrgyzstan.

According to the broadcaster, almost all Internet providers in the country have restored access to Azattyk’s websites, rus.azattyk.org and azattyk.org.

The sites have been blocked since October 2022 when the Ministry of Culture implemented a ban and froze the broadcaster’s bank account following a report on a conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border that it said contained “inaccurate information”.

On 12 July, a court approved a settlement agreement concluded between Azattyk and the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy and all legal proceedings were terminated. “The reason for concluding the agreement was that the material became unavailable on the platforms of Radio Liberty,” Azattyk said.

Nicola Careem joins RFE/RL as Head of News Division

2 June 2023

Nicola Careem joins RFE/RL as Head of News Division

Award-winning journalist Nicola Careem will join Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) as the Head of News Division, effective July 24, 2023. Operating from the company’s Prague headquarters, Careem will be responsible for establishing RFE/RL’s editorial priorities, overseeing the editorial board, and managing the production of multi-platform news content published in 23 countries and 27 languages.

“Nicola brings fresh perspective and valuable experience working in challenging media climates to RFE/RL,” said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly. “We’re excited to have her lead our journalists as we reach growing audiences with truthful reporting.”

Careem has over two decades of experience as a journalist, overseeing news operations in conflict zones and turbulent environments. She has covered six wars from the ground, leading teams in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Syria, and Yemen. Most recently, she played a pivotal role at CNN as the Director of Coverage during the first six months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Before joining CNN, Careem led the BBC’s South Asia operation from New Delhi. She oversaw internationally acclaimed and agenda-setting coverage, steering the organization through the conflict in Afghanistan, increased military escalations between India and Pakistan, and unparalleled attacks on journalistic freedoms in the region. As the South Asia Bureau Chief, she was in charge of the BBC’s English language services from multiple bureaus across the continent, working closely with BBC Urdu, Pashto, and Dari, among other language services. Notably, she ran the BBC’s operation from Kabul as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban and led the organization’s coverage of the devastating COVID-19 outbreak in India.

Careem will lead a news division that has experienced record audience growth in response to award-winning coverage of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, historic anti-regime protests in Iran, and other momentous developments across RFE/RL’s broadcast markets. She will play a central role in executing RFE/RL’s comprehensive strategies to counter disinformation by prioritizing the organization’s ongoing digital transformation, including greater investments in data journalism, investigative journalism, digital storytelling, and digital forensics to provide growing audiences with quality, trusted news.

[Source: RFE/RL press release]

Image: Jan Rambousek/RFE/RL