DRUGS charges have been dropped against a Russian investigative reporter after an outpouring of support.

RUSSIA's interior minister said the accusations against Ivan Golunov "have not been proven".

The Herald:

Vladimir Kolokoltsev said Mr Golunov had been released from house arrest, and said he intends to seek the dismissal of three senior police officials and to investigate others involved in the case.

Mr Golunov was detained last Thursday, and placed under house arrest on Saturday.

He denied possessing drugs, and the circumstances of his case aroused suspicion among rights activists the journalist had been framed.

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The Herald:

Mr Golunov's arrest sparked an unprecedented display of solidarity among Russian mass media with three influential daily newspapers all printing an identical front page in his support.

His employers, Meduza, tweeted pictures of him walking free.