Prague-based US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to remain in custody

The Supreme Court of Russia's Tatarstan has rejected an appeal by Alsa Kurmasheva, a Prague-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist, against a decision to extend her pre-trial detention.

Ms. Kurmasheva, who is Russian-American, was arrested in the Russian city of Kazan in October last year after visiting her family and charged with failure to register as a foreign agent, which can carry a five-year jail term.

The U.S. government and RFE/RL say the charges are punishment for Kurmasheva's work as a journalist for RFE/RL.