Moscow City Court doesn't reinstate policeman who was dismissed following Golunov's case
MOSCOW. Oct 9 (Interfax) - The Moscow City Court on Wednesday declined to reinstate an operative of the police department for Moscow's Western District, Roman Feofanov, who was dismissed for various violations committed during the detention of correspondent Ivan Golunov.
"Feofanov's claims were declined," the court's press service told Interfax.
The court held an in-camera session, the press service said.
The Moscow City Court also said that two other lawsuits filed by head of the anti-drug division of the police department for Moscow's Western District Andrei Schirov and operative of this police department Maxim Umetbayev would be heard on October 10 and October 17.
Following the internal inquiry, four police officers from the police department for the Western Administrative District were fired, the press service of the Moscow branch of the Interior Ministry told Interfax earlier.
It has also been previously reported that five officers from this police department were suspended.
The Interior Ministry's internal security service is carrying out an inquiry seeking to assess the lawfulness of actions of police officers who detained Golunov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said earlier.
Two major-generals of police, namely, head of the Moscow anti-drug department of the Russian Interior Ministry Yury Devyatkin and head of the police department for the Western Administrative District Andrei Puchkov have already been dismissed in connection with Golunov's case.
Golunov, a correspondent of the online media outlet Meduza, was detained by police officers on June 6. The Moscow police department reported finding drugs on him and in his apartment. He was charged with an attempt to sell a large amount of drugs on June 8. Moscow's Nikulinsky District Court ordered his house arrest until August 7.
Golunov's detention generated a broad public outcry, especially among journalists.
He was released on June 11 and the charges against him were dropped due to a lack of evidence. Golunov said that drugs had been planted on him, and his criminal case had been linked to his report on funeral business, which he had prepared prior his detention.