Russian courts have convicted a string of journalists in recent days. Today

exiled Russian journalist Mikhail Zaykar was sentenced to eight and a half years in

absentia for spreading fake information about Russia's war in Ukraine.

On Friday, Evan Gerskovich, an American Wall Street Journal reporter was convicted of espionage

in a rushed secret trial.

That same day, Al-Sou Kormacheva, a dual Russian-American citizen and journalist with the

U.S. funded Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, was convicted and sentenced to six and a half years in prison for spreading

quote falsehoods about the Russian army. Like the others her trial was shrouded in

secrecy. I spoke yesterday with Kramashiba's husband, Pavel, and the elder of her two daughters,

BB, and began by asking them about the moment they learned of her conviction.

Well, first of all, it was unusual to find out from a news report.

Alsu's case is shrouded in secrecy.

We knew very little about this trial.

I know the sentence is terrible.

However, unfortunately it was not unexpected.

In Russia, conviction rates are almost 100%.

If you're charged, you are convicted, especially in a political case

like this. But more importantly, we know Alsu's family. We know that Alsu has done nothing wrong,. She doesn't belong in a Russian prison cell. She belongs home with her family.

Baby, I know in many ways as your father's explaining, you kind of expect it in this sort of system, but at the same time, just what did you think when you heard the news?

Like my dad said it wasn't shocking because we expected her to get convicted but it definitely was hurtful because it's so disheartening

to see our mom who is the sweetest, most wonderful person in the world being treated

this way and people thinking that she could be a criminal.

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