Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva Detained: Politics or Justice?

A Russian court has extended the pre-trial detention of Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with dual Russian and American citizenship, until August 5. She works for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and has been charged with violating Russia's law on foreign agents. Her employer claims the detention is politically motivated.

A Russian court on Friday extended until Aug.5 the pre-trial detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva who hold Russian and United States citizenships, a Reuters correspondent reported from the courtroom in the city of Kazan.

Kurmasheva is a Prague-based journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is funded by the U.S. Congress and designated by Russia as a foreign agent, meaning it gets foreign funding for activity deemed to be political.

Her employer says her detention on charges of violating Russia's law on foreign agents is unjust and politically motivated.