Prague-based RFE/Radio Liberty journalist Kurmasheva released from Russian jail within prisoner swap

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist who lived in the Czech Republic and worked for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was released from a Russian prison on Wednesday within a large-scale prisoner swap between Russia, the U.S. and several European countries, the International Press Institute reported.

Kurmasheva, a mother of two, was detained by the Russian authorities on a visit to her parents last October and sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail for failing to register as a foreign agent.

In addition, Russian authorities reportedly freed activists and other regime critics such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, and Sasha Skochilenko. According to the International Press Institute at least 15 political prisoners were set free from Russian prisons within the swap.