MOSCOW, December 2 (RAPSI, Kirill Ryabchikov) – Moscow’s Basmanny District Court on Monday dismissed complaints of Meduza journalist Ivan Golunov against inaction of an investigator, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.
Golunov and his defense challenged inaction of the investigator and violation of the journalist’s rights. According to his attorney Sergey Badamshin, the investigation has not yet opened a criminal case over illegal prosecution of journalist and has failed to recognize him as victim.
Golunov was arrested in Moscow on June 6. On June 8, the Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow placed him under house arrest for 2 months. According to the Interior Ministry’s official statement, police seized nearly 4 grams of methylmethedrone from Golunov.
The journalist pleaded not guilty, insisted that the drugs were planted on him during the arrest and claimed that his prosecution is related to his journalistic investigations.
According to his defense, an examination showed no drugs in his biomaterial.
On June 11, charges against Golunov were dropped because of a lack of evidence that he participated in the crime, and the journalist was released.
On June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed two generals of police on the back of the arrest of Golunov.