US: Russia Charges Acclaimed American-Russian Journalist Masha Gessen with Spreading “False Information,” Add her to Most-Wanted List
Gessen latest in line of slew of Russian journalists in exile targeted by the authorities, and part of three U.S. citizens charged by Kremlin, including Alsu Kurmasheva and Evan Gershkovich
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: November 27, 2023Updated, December 12, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned by the perpetual targeting of Masha Gessen, an acclaimed American-Russian journalist and author. Gessen has been charged with spreading misinformation and was added to the country’s most-wanted list in an apparent reprisal for talking about reports of civilian brutalization and killings in Bucha, Ukraine. This move underscores the Kremlin's intensifying efforts to silence critical voices abroad regarding its war efforts. Since the start of the war against Ukraine, CFWIJ has documented an alarming surge in the targeting of exiled Russian journalists. We call on the international community and governments to safeguard the well-being of these journalists in their new countries. We urge the U.S. to apply pressure on the Kremlin to stop persecuting the press, while simultaneously demanding the authorities drop all charges against Gessen and remove her from their “wanted” list.
Russian authorities have initiated a criminal case against Masha Gessen. CFWIJ found that Gessen had been indicted on August 29, but could only confirm with certainty after Gessen had located the complaint on November 23. Less than a week later, independent Russian newsroom Mediazona found the journalist on the Russian Interior Ministry’s most-wanted list.
Gessen, who currently resides in the U.S., is charged with allegedly disseminating false information about Russia's military actions in Ukraine. The staff writer for the New Yorker and Distinguished Professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism identifies as nonbinary and relocated to the United States in 2013, a decision prompted by Russia's introduction of restrictive legislation targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
The charges now laid against them stem from an interview with Russian YouTuber and journalist Yury Dud, in which Gessen discussed a reporting trip to Ukraine, focusing on the investigation of potential war crimes during the early stages of the conflict.
In March 2022, international outcry arose over reports of civilian brutalization and killings in Bucha. However, Russian officials quickly countered these reports with claims of falsification and staging, despite mounting evidence from various sources, including Bucha residents and Ukrainian officials. In the interview with Dud, Gessen categorically rejected the Russian state media's narratives about Bucha, emphasizing the baselessness of these claims.
“The legal harassment of such a prominent and eminent journalist who has been honored for their coverage of Russia is part of a systematic effort to silence critics of the Putin regime both inside and outside the country,” Dean Graciela Mochkofsky of The Newmark J-School said in a statement. “We also recognize their persecution is part of the broader effort to stifle independent journalism. As an institution dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of journalists, we reject all such efforts.”
The legal action against Gessen is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of repression against independent journalism in Russia, especially since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“The legal harassment of such a prominent and eminent journalist who has been honored for their coverage of Russia is part of a systematic effort to silence critics of the Putin regime both inside and outside the country ”
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom has documented a significant increase in the use of anti-terrorism and military censorship laws by Russian authorities to suppress dissent and target critical journalists. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, these broadly worded legislations have been instrumental in silencing voices that criticize the Russian government, support Ukraine, or engage in online activities such as publishing articles or sharing anti-war content.
Last month, a Russian court confirmed the continued pre-trial detention of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter and U.S. citizen. Gershkovich, the first American journalist charged with espionage in Russia since the Cold War's end, has been imprisoned for nine months.
Following Evan Gershkovich’s detention, Police in Kazan detained Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s editor Alsu Kurmasheva, now the second American journalist put behind bars in Russia. After first confiscating her passport for five months, authorities are now charging her with failure to register as a “foreign agent.”
The Attack on Journalists in Exile
This systematic crackdown has had a chilling effect on independent media in Russia. Many journalists have been compelled to cease reporting or leave the country to continue their work from exile.
CFWIJ’s documentation reveals a disturbing pattern of persecution and intimidation, with exiled Russian journalists facing dire threats, including conviction in absentia, poisoning attempts, surveillance, and hacking. The targeting of exiled journalists is indicative of a broader tactic of transnational repression employed by the Russian government.
A case in point is the targeting of Anna Loiko, a Russian journalist who has also been added to Russia's wanted list. The harassment extended to Loiko's family in Moscow highlights the extreme lengths to which the Russian government is willing to go to suppress dissenting voices.
For Gessen, the charges effectively restrict their international travel, particularly to countries with extradition treaties with Russia, and hinder their journalistic endeavors. “The chances that I will ever be able to go back to Russia — I’m 56 years old — are pretty slim,” Gessen says. “That has a significant impact on my life and at some point, my journalism.”
“The chances that I will ever be able to go back to Russia — I’m 56 years old — are pretty slim. That has a significant impact on my life and at some point, my journalism”
But the implications of the case against Gessen extend beyond her personal freedom. As an internationally recognized figure, winner of the 2017 National Book Award for "The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia," and author of a critical biography of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Gessen's case represents a chilling message to journalists worldwide.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom denounces the charges against Masha Gessen, calls for their immediate dismissal, and demands an end to the attacks on the press. This situation not only undermines the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and press but also signifies a dangerous escalation in the tactics employed by authoritarian regimes against journalists. The increasing number of cases targeting exiled Russian journalists underscores the need for a concerted global effort to protect journalists and uphold the values of free and independent media. We call on the international community and governments to ensure the safety of exiled journalists in their new home countries. We call on the U.S. to increase pressure on the Kremlin to halt the targeting of the press and to demand they drop the baseless charges against Gessen immediately.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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