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Former Police Officers Charged with Framing Russian Journalist

Charles Maynes

   MOSCOW - Moscow police have charged five former officers with
   fabricating evidence against a leading Russian journalist,adding a
   twist to a press freedom case that captured international headlines.

   Ivan Golunov, an investigative journalist for the online Meduza portal,
   was arrested on what were widely seen as trumped-up drug possession
   charges in June2019.

   There were immediate suspicions the arrest was tied to his work: the
   journalist was well-known forinvestigative stories that looked into
   corruption in city government, business and mafia circles.

   Russia's journalism community quickly rallied to his support,launching
   a media campaign that triggered large street protests inMoscow.

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