An investigative journalist named Ivan Golunov has reportedly been arrested in Russia and beaten while in custody.
Russian police purported that Golunov was in possession of the illegal drug mephedrone on his person and in his home, which detectives later accused him of preparing to distribute, according to independent Latvian outlet Meduza. Golunov, however, communicated through friends that the police had “planted two packages containing some unknown substance” prior to being arrested.
Dmitry Dzhulai, Golunov’s lawyer, said that Russian police had punched, kicked, and dragged Golunov across the floor and then denied him medical care.
“When he’d finally been granted access to an attorney, Ivan asked the police to take samples from his hands and fingernails for forensic analysis that could determine if he was ever in contact with the drugs police say they found. Ivan’s request was denied,” said Meduza CEO Galina Timchenko and Editor-in-Chief Ivan Kolpakov in a joint statement.
“Ivan Golunov’s professional reputation is impeccable. He is a meticulous, honest, and impartial journalist, and outside work Ivan is one of the most decent people we know. We are convinced that Ivan Golunov is innocent. Moreover, we have reason to believe he’s been targeted because of his work as a journalist,” they continued.
The Russian Interior Ministry published online and later removed images of drugs and equipment supposedly in Golunov’s possession. Golunov’s friends assert that the apartment displayed in the pictures is not his, according to the Guardian.
Russian police admitted in a comment to BBC News that “most of the published photos had not been taken at Mr. Golunov’s flat after all, but were related to another criminal investigation that might be linked to his detention.”
