8 Jun 2019 14:41

Investigators to request court to extend period of Golunov's detention by 72 hrs - Meduza director

MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) - The investigators will request that the court extend the period of detention of Meduza online media reporter Ivan Golunov, charged with attempted drug dealing, by 72 hours, the media's director Galina Timchenko said.

"Lawyer Dmitry Dinze told me just now that they [the investigators] are now going to the court to extend the period of Ivan's detention by 72 hours," Timchenko said.

Pavel Chikov, the head of the Agora International Human Rights Group, whose lawyers represent the journalist, said that the head of the investigative unit refused Golunov's hospitalization.

Chikov said earlier on Saturday that an ambulance was called for Golunov to a police station. Doctors have diagnosed him with a concussion and suggested fractured ribs, he said.

According to the investigators, "Golunov "attempted to deal a large quantity of narcotics." Charges against him were brought on Saturday.

According to the investigators, two parcels with metamfepramone, weighing 3.65 grams, were seized during an examination of the journalist's backpack and the substance containing cocaine, weighning 5.42 grams, was seized at his place of residence.

According to the Moscow police, the employees of the Drug Control Department of the Interior Ministry's branch for the Western Administrative District detained Golunov on Tsvetnoi Boulevard on June 5.

Agora lawyer Dmitry Dzhulai told Interfax on Friday that the journalist denied any wrongdoing and believes his detention was a provocation.

Meduza's Editor-in-Chief Ivan Kolpakov told Interfax that Golunov had been receiving threats on various occasions for the past year. He was in charge of investigations at Meduza. Kolpakov said he is confident that the drugs were planted on the journalist, adding that the editorial office will verify the possible connection between Golunov's prosecution and his professional activities.