Russian journalist Golunov released after drug allegations dropped following high profile investigation

RT
Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:19 UTC

© Sputnik / Grigoriy Sysoev

Ivan Golunov walks out of the Investigative Committee in Moscow.

Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov has been released from house arrest as the criminal case against him was dropped due to a lack of evidence. His arrest sparked widespread protests and allegations of police misconduct.

The journalist appeared at the Investigative Committee building in Moscow late on Tuesday to have his ankle monitor removed. A large crowd of supporters and reporters - as well as his dog - awaited him outside.

Golunov revealed that he has no plans to investigate his own case, stating that there would be "a conflict of interests" in doing so.

"I'll continue to pursue the work I've been doing. I'll make investigations, since I have to justify the trust of those who supported me. That [support] has been, indeed, fantastic," the journalist told reporters.

As for now, he plans to "get himself together" and wants to spend some time with his family to relax after the whole traumatizing affair.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russia's Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said the evidence gathered by a Moscow narcotics unit, which accused Golunov of being a drug dealer, was found to be invalid and all the charges against him were dropped. Police officers, who are suspected of framing the journalist, have been suspended while an internal investigation goes on.

Golunov was detained on Thursday, with police officers claiming they found drugs on him and at his apartment and accused him of drug dealing. The journalist denied all the allegations, claiming that the evidence was planted by the police and the whole case was a set-up in retaliation for his investigative journalism. The case triggered widespread outrage in Russia, with many fellow journalists and other public figures rallying in support of Golunov, and accusing law enforcement of misconduct.

Comment: RT reports that Golunov was likely targeted because of his investigations into corruption involving the police force:

The interior minister said he will be asking President Vladimir Putin to sack the senior Moscow police official responsible for counter-drug investigations as well as other officials responsible for the scandal.

The police officers suspected of framing the journalist have been suspended pending an internal investigation, Kolokoltsev said. "The materials of a probe conducted by the police internal investigation unit have been sent to the Investigative Committee [an office under the Prosecutor General] to evaluate the validity of the actions of the officers who detained him," he said.

Golunov was detained on Thursday, with police officers claiming they found drugs in his possession and accusing him of dealing drugs. The journalist denied the allegations and said the evidence was planted by the police in retaliation for his investigative journalism about local authorities.The case triggered widespread outrage in Russia, with leading media outlets and public figures demanding a swift probe into suspected police corruption.

Golunov also said police mistreated him while in custody, refusing his right for an attorney and even assaulting him violently. Allegations of brutality further fueled the public outrage over the case.

The developments were hailed by Russian human rights activists and media professionals, who were supporting Golunov.

"The only thing I have to say is I am very happy," said Mikhail Fedotov, the chair of the presidential human rights council. "This is an outcome I was expecting and I hope it's not the end of this story."

Galina Timchenko, the editor-in-chief of the news website Meduza, for which Golunov works, said she was "happy, crying" after learning the news.

"We all know that this happened thanks to the effort of hundreds and thousands of people. I am grateful to them all," she said.

For more details surrounding the case, see: "We are Golunov": Unanswered questions and inconsistencies in arrest of Russian journalist exposing corruption

And for insight into how the West deals with its whistlerblowers, see: Assange Espionage Act indictment a war on press freedom and threat to First Amendment