National Press Club

Photos: PFW - Breakfast with Alsu Kurmasheva

Jeremy Bigwood

May 02, 2025

Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NPC's Bill McCarren introduces recently-freed journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Jason Rezaian. Both have spent time in prisons for being journalists.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison with Jason Rezaian (right). Rezian was similarly imprisoned in Iran.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Jason Rezaian speaks.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison with Jason Rezaian (right). Rezian was similarly imprisoned in Iran.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison with Jason Rezaian (right). Rezian was similarly imprisoned in Iran.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Jason Rezaian speaks.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Jason Rezaian speaks.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NPC member Glenn Marcus makes a point.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Unidentified audience members film the discussion.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Former NPC president Emily Wilkins asks a question.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva (left) discusses her detention in a Russian prison with Jason Rezaian (right). Rezian was similarly imprisoned in Iran.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Author James Risen (State of War) asks Alsu and Jason a question.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Jason Rezaian speaks.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Jeff Gidman, CEO of Middle East Broadcasting Networks, asks a question.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood An audience member asks a question about non-journalist prisoners of autocratic regimes.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Jason Rezaian speaks.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NPC's Bill McCarren points out the difference between journalists and others who are arrested by authoritarian governments.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NPC's Bill McCarren points out the difference between journalists and others who are arrested by authoritarian governments.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NPC's Bill McCarren points out the difference between journalists and others who are arrested by authoritarian governments.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NPC's Bill McCarren points out the difference between journalists and others who are arrested by authoritarian governments.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva discusses her detention in a Russian prison.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva (left) discusses the future with Jason Rezaian (right).
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva (left) discusses the future with Jason Rezaian (right).
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva (left) discusses the future with Jason Rezaian (right).
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood Alsu Kurmasheva (left) discusses the future with Jason Rezaian (right).
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NED's Lillian Posner talks with Bill McCarren and the Barents Observer's Atle Staalesen and Thomas Nilsen.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Bigwood NED's Lillian Posner talks with the Barents Observer's Atle Staalesen and Thomas Nilsen.

Jason Rezaian sat down with Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe over breakfast as part of the National Press Club's Press Freedom Week on May 2, 2025. They discussed her detention in Russia, her new career in an advocacy role, and ongoing efforts to free the 10 VOA, RFE/RL, and RFA journalists still imprisoned worldwide.