Ivan is not just our colleague, but a friend and teacher: he helped journalists of «7x7» to prepare a series of investigations called «Regional Kings of the Government Contract» (1, 2), taught how to work with sources and facts, lectured at our online school. But most importantly, Ivan is one of the best investigative journalists of Russia. We, together with the colleagues from Meduza, MediaZona, Novaya Gazeta, and other media, believe that the criminal case against him is an attempt to stop Ivan's journalistic work.

Support Ivan Golunov any way you can — the future of independent journalism in Russia depends on it. We wish him to be released and return to his work soon.

Maxim Polyakov, the editor of «7x7», and Ivan Golunov

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