Award-Winning Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva Joins James W. Foley Legacy Foundation Board
WASHINGTON -โ The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation today โคannounced the appointment of Alsu Kurmasheva, a highly respected journalist and editor with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), to its Boardโ of Directors.โ The move brings aโฃ crucial voice โฃ- one forged in the fires of recent persecution – to an institution dedicatedโค to protecting journalists โand advocating for those wrongfully detained โคabroad.
Kurmasheva’sโฃ appointment is particularly poignant given her โคown recent ordeal. The dual U.S.-Russian citizen was unjustly detained in Russia inโค October 2023, enduring overโข nine months of imprisonment before being sentenced toโข six and a half years on politically motivated charges. The accusations centered around allegedly spreading false dataโ about the Russian military, stemming โฃfrom her workโค with โa book compiling testimonies from โRussians opposing the war in Ukraine.
Her โขreleaseโฃ came inโ Augustโ 2024 as part of a high-profile prisoner exchangeโ thatโ also broughtโ homeโข Wall โStreet Journal reporterโฃ Evan Gershkovich, U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan,and Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza.
As returning home, Kurmasheva has become aโ powerfulโข advocate for press freedom, openly sharing herโฃ experiences to illuminate the escalating dangers faced by journalists operating in increasingly authoritarian environments.
“Having dealt first-hand with the dangers journalists confront in countries lacking strong democratic โinstitutions,โค Alsu bringsโค an vital and valuable perspective to theโ Foley board,” stated Dianeโข Foley, Founder and President of the Foundation. “Her experience is becoming all โtoo common as journalists ventureโฃ intoโค increasingly autocratic – and risky – parts of the world to keep โคAmericans informed.”
Kurmasheva expressed her gratitude and โคcommitment, saying, “It’s an honor to serve on the Foley Foundation board.My experiencesโฃ have underscored the challenges journalists face in authoritarian โฃregions, and I amโค committed toโข using that perspective to strengthen our efforts in supportingโค those who risk theirโฃ lives to โคinform the public.”
She alsoโ currently serves โon the Advisory Board of theโฃ Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club.
About the James W. foley Legacy Foundation:
The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation was โestablished in theโข wake of the 2014 murder โฃof conflict journalist James W. Foleyโ by ISIS terrorists,โ who had held him hostage in Syria as 2012. The Foundation champions the cause of American hostages andโ wrongful detainees worldwide,โ while simultaneously โworking to enhance the โคsafety of journalists reporting from conflict zones.
To โฃlearn more โabout the James W. โFoley Legacy Foundation andโ to support its vital work, please visit jamesfoleyfoundation.org โor consider making โaโข donation here.
SEO Considerations:
* Keywords: “Alsu Kurmasheva,” “James W. Foley Legacy Foundation,” โ”press freedom,”โ “journalist safety,”โฃ “wrongfulโ detainment,”โ “Russia,” โ”Evan Gershkovich,” “RFE/RL,” โ”Radioโข Free Europe/radio Liberty”
* Meta โDescription: Award-winningโ journalist Alsuโค Kurmasheva,โ recently released from โขRussian prison, joins the โขJames W.โค Foley Legacy Foundation board to advocate for press freedom and journalist safety.
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* Internalโข Linking: Linked to the Foundation’s websiteโค for further information and donations.
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