Russian Reporter Golunov's Defence to Appeal to European Court of Human Rights

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Defense for Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, who was recently detained on suspicion of drug offenses, will apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), as the journalist was deprived of sleep, food and water for more than 24 hours while in detention, Golunov's lawyer Dmitry Dzhulai said.

"He [Golunov] was involved in investigative actions, although he did not sleep for more than a day, did not eat, drink and did not understand what was happening — it was real torture and it will be appealed in ECHR", Dzhulai stressed.

READ MORE: Moscow Court Places Reporter Golunov Under House Arrest for Pending Drug Charges

Police detained Golunov on Thursday after finding five packets of a powdery substance, which was later found to be mephedron.

Police officers published photos allegedly proving they had also found a scales and more of the same substance at Golunov's home. Meanwhile, the Russian Interior Ministry said late on Friday that the drugs found in the journalist's flat included cocaine.

On Saturday, the Nikulinsky district court in Moscow rejected a warrant to place Golunov in custody and ruled for house arrest as a measure of restraint.

According to Dzhulai, police very likely planted the drugs in Godunov's backpack as the package with mephedrone was found on top of the contents of his bag.

In addition, Dzhulai says investigators did not take hand swabs or nail clippings from Golunov. Moscow Police say the reporter refused to provide them with clippings of his nails.

READ MORE: Russian Journo Detained in Moscow Over Drug Possession ‘Provocation’ - Lawyer

On Friday, the Chairman of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, Mikhail Fedotov, said that Golunov, famous for his investigations into corruption cases, might have been detained due to his work as a journalist.