Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Wrongful Detainment Of Journalists Alsu Kurmasheva And Evan Gershkovich In Russia

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on Russia’s wrongful detainment of journalists Alsu Kurmasheva And Evan Gershkovich. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Yesterday, Russian authorities detained a journalist with dual U.S.-Russian citizenship on specious charges of failing to register as a foreign agent.

Alsu Kurmasheva is now the second American journalist detained by Russia this year, after Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal was arrested in March.

We unequivocally condemn Russia’s unjustifiable detention of Alsu Kurmasheva and of Evan Gershkovich, and we demand they be released immediately.

It’s no secret that Russia has a long and disturbing history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens, especially members of the free press.

But let me be clear: journalism is not a crime and should never be met with persecution, intimidation, suppression.

America stands with Alsu and Evan, and their families.

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