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«For whom KOLOKOLtsev tolls”: how lawyers reacted to Golunov’s release» — quoting Valery Zinchenko's piece in Pravo.ru’s publication

In the afternoon of June 11 the Head of the MIA Vladimir Kolokoltsev announced that all charges of attempted drug dealing against investigative journalist Ivan Golunov had been dropped. Here's a review of how the legal community reacted to the fact.

Lawyer Sergey Golubok: “We now actually have something to celebrate on Russia Day. Protest campaigns may be turned into a carnival. After all, the source of power in Russia, as we all know, is its multinational people, and not someone else.”

Natalya Kleyn, Director for Development of Pavlova and Partners Attorneys at Law: “Journalism and the civil society do have some weight after all! Hooray!”

Vladimir Bagayev, editor-in-chief of Zakon.ru:

“The main sentiment on social media apart from everyone’s joy for Golunov is to demand criminal prosecution, and this time of the MIA officers.”

For instance, Boris Titov, Commissioner for Entrepreneurs' Rights, argues:

Dmitry Soldatkin, a lawyer of SZP Law Boutique, too, mentions the possibility to initiate a criminal case on unlawful prosecution: “We are now expecting initiation of a criminal case under art. 299 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the RF. We’ll be surprised if that doesn’t happen.”

Managing Partner of Pen & Paper Valery Zinchenko: “I’ve been closely watching not only Golunov’s case, but also my colleagues’ and friends’ reactions: from “he’s nuts” to “most likely experts will tell.” Yes, lawyers are not allowed to comment on cases they are not involved in. But they can comment on actions. Repulsive, malicious, dirty. And don’t try to get away now by shifting your ground. Many things have become clear. And not to me alone. And that does deserve a toast, as Meduza has put it. But we’ll only raise our glasses when all bloodsuckers from perpetrators to paymasters are really punished. In full accordance with the law, the way they like it.”