A Russian court last week sentenced Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal to 16 years in a penal colony, following a sham trial on false charges of espionage. Then news emerged this week that another journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was sentenced the same day to more than six years in prison.
The verdicts against these two reporters are part of a relentless Kremlin crackdown on independent journalists who dare to speak the truth about the war in Ukraine, even outside their borders.
Last month ICFJ Knight Award winner Roman Anin and his former colleague, Ekaterina Fomina, were arrested in absentia, accused of spreading “fakes” about the Russian army. In similar fashion, a court recently sentenced in absentia author and New York Times columnist Masha Gessen to eight years in prison.
Despite the considerable threats and challenges, many Russian journalists keep reporting from afar. To support this vital work, ICFJ has shifted our long-running Russia program to serve those forced to flee their country – helping them find ways to operate more safely and sustainably wherever they are.
Marina Sedneva, an editor for 7x7, was embedded at The Colorado Sun in Denver as part of the program. She said the experience helped her news outlet develop better systems as a dispersed team. They also received a grant to report on how the war has divided religions and churches in Russia. Read more about the program.
Marina and other participants have written about press freedom for their U.S. partners, bringing an important perspective to audiences here. “Independent journalism is necessary for the best version of your state, your country or your world. But it won’t exist without civil society, freedom of speech and support from its audience. Americans should be proud — they have everything, unlike Russia now. And you shouldn’t take it for granted.”
Powerful, wise words. A reminder, as Colorado Sun Editor Larry Ryckman put it, that we “have a role to play even here at home to safeguard a free press.”