MOSCOW, November 20 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court dismissed a lawsuit to reinstate ex-police officer Andrey Shchirov, who had been dismissed following illegal prosecution of journalist Ivan Golunov, RAPSI was told in the court’s press service on Wednesday.

The court refused to recognize Shchirov’s dismissal as illegal.

On October 6, the court also denied a similar motion filed by another ex-policeman Roman Feofanov.

Hearings are held behind closed doors as the case contains confidential information.One more similar claim by fired police officer Maxim Umetbayev is expected to be considered on December 5.

Golunov was arrested in Moscow on June 6. On June 8, the Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow placed him under house arrest for 2 months. According to the Interior Ministry’s official statement, police seized nearly 4 grams of methylmethedrone from Golunov.

The journalist pleaded not guilty, insisted that the drugs were planted on him during the arrest and claimed that his prosecution is related to his journalistic investigations.

According to his defense, an examination showed no drugs in his biomaterial.

On June 11, charges against Golunov were dropped because of a lack of evidence that he participated in the crime, and the journalist was released.

On June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed two generals of police on the back of the arrest of Golunov.