Prominent Moscow journalist Ivan Golunov (pictured) was arrested last night by law enforcement officials using methods long used to neutralize undesirable Muslims in the Caucasus and throughout Russia. Drugs were «found» on Golunov, despite his lawyers’ claims that he was beaten during his arrest and refused to have samples taken from his hands and nails, which would have shown whether or not he had touched the drugs «found» on him. It should be noted that Ivan Golunov is a journalist for the opposition media outlet «Meduza» and the author of numerous high-profile investigations, including those into the lucrative funeral business in Moscow, the Moscow City Hall propaganda empire, the relatives of Moscow Deputy Mayor Petr Biryukov, the garbage business that recently caused mass protests in several regions, and so on. Each of these investigations posed a risk to the life and safety of their author, and according to those who know him, he has received numerous threats from unknown persons in recent months. In this case, it should be noted that the journalist was lucky that «legal» methods were chosen to deal with him, rather than hitmen.
There is little doubt that there will be reprisals. All of Golunov’s professional colleagues are unanimous in saying that he has no connection with drugs. This is confirmed, for example, by prominent journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova, who has known Golunov for 18 years and is convinced that he is being targeted for his honest journalism, using «criminal» charges, as is often the case in such situations.
It should be recalled that these methods have been used against Muslims in Russia for over a decade. Beginning in the Caucasus, law enforcement officials gradually extended the planting of drugs, weapons, and «extremist literature» on undesirable Muslims throughout Russia. And now, as we can see, they are being applied to journalists from reputable Russian media, once again dispelling the illusions of «national-humanists» like Oleg Kashin, who believed that such methods could be used against «bearded savages» but not against «civilized people» in «European Russia».
We will not rejoice in the fact that the liberal public remained silent when these methods were used against Muslims and eventually became their own victims. For a long time such rejoicing was perfectly justified, but recently, when selective lawlessness has turned into mass and obvious lawlessness, the Russian opposition media have increasingly drawn attention to its application against Muslims.
Therefore, we stand on the same side of the barricades with those who are fighting for the civil rights of ordinary Russians, including Muslims, and express our solidarity with Ivan Golunov and wish for his speedy release.