Skip to main content
news

Golunov everywhere How state TV channels covered the end of Ivan Golunov's case at the top of the hour

Source: Meduza

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

Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!

Let’s stick together for 2025.

The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. The real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.

Any amount