U.S. Journalist Masha Gessen Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison by Moscow Court

Russian Authorities Convict Prominent Critic in Absentia for Comments on War Crimes in Ukraine

In a significant blow to press freedom, New York Times opinion columnist Masha A. Gessen was sentenced in absentia on July 15 by a Moscow court to eight years in prison. Gessen was convicted by the Basmanny District Court for spreading “false information” about the Russian military, following comments made about Russian war crimes in Ukraine during an interview in 2022.

According to the New York Times, the charges stem from Masha Gessen’s description of the massacre committed by Russian Armed Forces in Bucha and neighboring communities. Russian authorities charged the Russian-born American journalist in August 2022, and the verdict was reached swiftly on Monday after minutes of deliberation.

In response to the verdict, Gessen, who resides in the U.S., stated that the decision was an attempt to “intimidate me and to prevent me from practicing my profession.” Gessen further added, “To oblige a journalist to use only official sources, and even more so to use only sources on the other side of the military conflict, means, in effect, to ban journalism.”

Gessen’s conviction underscores Russia’s ongoing crackdown on independent journalism, particularly Western media within the country. This follows the high-profile case of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been in pre-trial detention since late March 2023 on espionage charges. Gershkovich was arrested while investigating the Wagner mercenary group’s recruiting methods and Russian public opinion on the Ukraine invasion. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a likely outcome given the Russian judiciary’s high conviction rate.

Another dual U.S.-Russian journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, remains in pre-trial detention under Russia’s foreign agents law. Kurmasheva was detained in October 2023 during a family emergency in Russia.

Gessen, an award-winning writer and prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been on a wanted list since December. The charges are based on statements made during an interview with popular Russian blogger Yury Dud, where Gessen discussed the atrocities in Bucha. Ukrainian forces discovered over 400 bodies in Bucha, with evidence of torture, after Russian troops retreated. Russian officials have consistently denied responsibility for these actions and have prosecuted several public figures for speaking out.

The prosecutions are based on a Russian law passed shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, criminalizing any public dissent from the Kremlin’s narrative. Russia continues to assert that its military operations target only legitimate military objectives, not civilians.

Gessen, who lived in Russia until 2013 when anti-LGBTQ+ legislation was passed, is unlikely to face imprisonment unless traveling to a country with an extradition treaty with Moscow. The journalist’s case is part of a broader crackdown on dissent, with 1,053 criminal cases against anti-war protesters reported by the OVD-Info rights group.

In a related case, Russian citizen Richard Rose was also sentenced to eight years in prison on Monday for spreading false information about the Russian military’s actions in Bucha. Rose, who referred to the massacre in Bucha in a video, declared himself a political prisoner and stood by his views during his final court statement.

Conclusion:

The sentencing of Masha Gessen highlights a disturbing trend of silencing dissent and controlling the narrative in Russia. Capturing a journalist for expressing views on war crimes is an affront to press freedom. In the current global scenario, it is imperative to uphold the independence of the press, as no government should suppress the voice of the media. The cases of Gessen, Gershkovich, and Kurmasheva underscore the urgent need to defend journalists’ rights and ensure their safety worldwide.