Golunov everywhere How state TV channels covered the end of Ivan Golunov's case at the top of the hour
On June 11, drug possession and attempted sale charges against Meduza correspondent Ivan Golunov were dropped for lack of evidence. The persecution of Golunov, which began when he was arrested on June 6, sparked a historic level of public support, especially among Russian journalists. Early in the case’s proceedings, state media coverage was sparse: Golunov’s arrest was barely mentioned on TV news programs, and even the popular compiler Yandex News somehow failed to bring stories about Golunov to the top of its page. Following an announcement from Russia’s Internal Affairs Minister that Ivan Golunov will be freed, however, even state-owned television programs are airing segments with the news at the top of the hour. Here’s what that flood of coverage looked like.
Rossiya 24
“Kolokoltsev: Charges against Golunov dropped”
Rossiya 24
Channel One
“Ivan Golunov was arrested in Moscow on June 6 on accusations of drug distribution”
Channel One
“Free Ivan Golunov”
Channel One
NTV
“The Golunov case”
NTV
Moscow 24
“Internal Affairs Ministry: Golunov will be released from house arrest”
Moscow 24
TASS
The words “Criminal prosecution against Ivan Golunov shut down” displayed on the headquarters of one of Russia's two major wire services
Galina Timchenko
The official website of the Internal Affairs Ministry
The official notification that announced the arrest of Ivan Golunov and featured photographs of the drugs he supposedly possessed is now labeled “News brief annulled.”
Meduza
From the Twitterverse
Channel One news at six: Top of the hour: Golunov! Second: Titiev!!! Third: Volgograd Investigative Committee!!!!!! And only FOURTH: Putin
Mikhail Zelenskiy
Golunov walks into the Internet, and all he sees is Golunov.
@protivorechie