Russian journalist charged with drug-dealing
A PROMINENT Russian investigative journalist has been charged with drug-dealing after four grammes of mephedrone were found in his backpack, Moscow police said.
Ivan Golunov, who works for the independent website Meduza, was stopped by police in Moscow on Thursday. Police said more drugs were found at his home.
Meduza’s director general, Galina Timchenko, said Mr Golunov was beaten in detention and denied medical tests that would show he had not handled drugs. Ms Timchenko said she had photos that showed the impact on the left side of his face.
Moscow police denied the accusations of beating.
Mr Golunov is due to appear in court today. His lawyer said his client was not allowed to contact his family or lawyer for 12 hours after he was detained.
Mr Golunov’s colleagues and other journalists went to Moscow police headquarters yesterday to protest against what many saw as blatant retribution for a journalist’s work. At least 12 of them were detained, according to independent TV channel Dozhd.
Mr Golunov, 36, had recently received threats linked to a story he was pursuing, Ms Timchenko said.
“We are convinced that Ivan Golunov is innocent,” Meduza said in a statement.
“What’s more, we have reasons to believe that Golunov is being persecuted for his journalism. We know he has been receiving threats in recent months, and we know which particular unfinished story they relate to.”
Meduza is based in Riga, Latvia, as the journalists fear an increasing wave of media censorship and restrictive internet laws in Russia make any editorial office there vulnerable to government pressure.
Special correspondent Mr Golunov rose to prominence in recent years with his corruption investigations into Moscow’s city government and the crime-ridden funeral market.
Peers described him as one of Russia’s most dogged investigative reporters.