MOSCOW — Russia arrested five former police officers on Wednesday on suspicion of planting drugs on a prominent journalist last year to frame him. Police quickly dropped drug dealing charges against Ivan Golunov after his arrest last June triggered protests by supporters who said police had set him up because of his investigative reporting. President Vladimir Putin fired two police generals over the case, but supporters of Golunov, who is known for exposing corruption among Moscow city officials, have demanded the police officers involved be jailed. On Wednesday, the Investigative Committee, which handles major crimes, said it had taken five former Moscow policemen into custody and that it would charge them with planting drugs in Golunov’s rucksack and at his home in order to set him up. Golunov welcomed the announcement and said he hoped the case would go to court.

Source: National Post January 29, 2020 14:03 UTC