Ivan Golunov, an investigative reporter for digital media outlet Meduza, was arrested last week on drug trafficking charges he said were invented in retaliation for his work on official corruption. The crude set-up and arrest set social media alight and prompted a wave of solidarity towards the journalist. On Thursday it was announced that President Vladimir Putin had fired two police generals involved in the discredited case. Police responded by arresting hundreds of people, including Alexei Navalny, the prominent opposition leader, and several journalists. Reporters Without Borders, which ranks Russia 149th out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index, says at least six other journalists are still in detention in Russia.

Source: The Irish Times June 13, 2019 23:03 UTC