Putin orders to dismiss two police generals amid frame-up scandal

Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the dismissal of two Moscow police major-generals. The document has been published on the presidential website.

In accordance with the decree, Yuri Devyatkin, Head of Moscow’s Main Drug Comtrol Directorate, and Andrey Puchkov, Head of Internal Affairs Directotrate of Moscow’s Western Administrative District, are relieved from the posts.

On June 6, Meduza investigative journalist Ivan Golunov was detained and beaten by the police. The special correspondent of Meduza was accused of attempted large scale drug sale. Colleagues and human rights activists believe the case to be a revenge for the investigations of Golunov and claim that the drugs were planted on him by the siloviki. The incident triggered a wave of solidarity and massive public outcry, which the Russian authorities might have taken into account when taking a decision to free Golunov and stop criminal proceedings.

However, Muscovites took to the streets to protest against criminal frame-ups. By various estimates, 1,200 – 3,000 persons may have participated in Wednesday’s rally.

Earlier, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev demanded the police officials who had made a faux pas should be fired.

Russian journalist Ivan Golunov persecuted for professional activities

belsat.eu

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