Reporter's Release Gives Hope to Russia's Anti-Corruption Activists

 

Russian officials do not often meet the demands of protestors or answer the calls of news media, observers note.

So, the decision last week to release arrested investigative reporter Ivan Golunov has encouraged opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Golunov was arrested on drug charges, but few people believed the charges.

Activists¹ say they hope Golunov’s release will be the start of an effort for change. They hope to start a movement against corruption³ and rights abuses that officials cannot ignore.

Experts say the decision by the Russian government to release Golunov was unusual. The government in Moscow rarely intervenes when police and other lower-level officials go too far. Public demands for Golunov’s release surprised high-level officials. They are concerned about the public mood.

For the past few years, Russians have become poorer and corruption has increased, the activists say. And Putin’s approval rating is lower.

Top government officials moved quickly to say that Putin was not responsible for the arrest of the journalist.

Golunov writes for the independent Russian news organization Meduza. It is based in the Baltic state of Latvia to get around censorship rules, but most of its reporters live in Russia.

There was “outrage in response to the violent arrest of Russian, anti-corruption journalist Ivan Golunov,” tweeted Bill Browder. He said that it caused Russian officials to give in to protestors’ demands. Browder is the American-born financier who has campaigned against high-level corruption in Russia.

Golunov was released on June 11 after being held on charges of having and giving out drugs.

Protests grew when it became clear that the evidence against him was false, and police had placed drugs on him. The judge in the case was not persuaded by the evidence. He ordered Gulonov to be moved from jail, where he had been abused by police. He was placed under house arrest instead.

Some local media are reporting that Putin’s assistant helped the judge make his decision.

Local media reported that the country’s state-owned television channels also supported the arrested journalist after the judge’s decision.

Tests showed that Golunov’s genetic⁴ material, or DNA⁵, was not on the drugs. Moscow police admitted that photographs they posted of what they claimed were drugs in his apartment were false.

The police are now under investigation⁶. The head of the Department for Narcotics⁷ Control as well as the head of the Moscow Police Department have been fired by the government along with two deputy ministers at the country’s Interior Ministry⁸.

Golunov’s arrest appeared to have been ordered by businessmen linked to corrupt² police. Golunov had accused the businessmen of corruption. His most recent investigation showed how state officials, criminals and the police have taken over Moscow’s funeral business.

His release was met with celebration by activists. But observers remain concerned.

“It is far too early to speak of a ‘thaw⁹,’ according to The Bell. It is an independent news organization that campaigned for the charges against Golunov to be dropped. The Bell also warned that civil society remains¹⁰ fragile.

But some believe the Golunov case may be an important political development. It may show the Russian government’s inability to control officials, the powerful or security agencies--or to end the corruption that angers ordinary Russians.

“Russians appear increasingly to be losing their patience with the status quo,” argued Mark Galeotti. He is author of the book “We Need to Talk About Putin.”

“Putin…looks weak,” he said in a published commentary. “To look weak is to become weak,” he added.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

encouraged – v. to make (someone) more determined¹¹, hopeful, or confident

mood – n. the way someone feels : a person's emotional state

journalist –n. the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio

censorship –n. the system of examines books, movies, letters, etc., and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral¹², harmful to society, etc.

thaw – v. to become more friendly and less angry

fragile – adj. easily broken or damaged

status quo – n. the current situation : the way things are now

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

5 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 narcotics   

n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 )；毒品；毒

参考例句：

• The use of narcotics by teenagers is a problem in many countries. 青少年服用麻醉药在许多国家中都是一个问题。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Police shook down the club, looking for narcotics. 警方彻底搜查了这个俱乐部，寻找麻醉品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

12 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。