A proverb that has become an unshakable rule for any rational person can not take root in the minds of the so-called liberal public - young and old know-it-alls, in whose rainbow world, contrary to all, there are never any other colors besides black and white.
It is very convenient to live without seeing beyond your nose when everything is obvious: this one is the enemy, and this one is a friend who a priori cannot steal, kill, eat children for breakfast and betray his homeland. Of course, it’s always difficult to accept that a friend who comes to the aid of a call at any time of the day, a colleague who covers his ass, risking his own, or a lover who carefully brings breakfast to bed, is not the one for whom he has been impersonating the past ten years.
Ivan Safronov, detained on suspicion of espionage in favor of the Czech Republic (and even bolder - the United States), is probably a very good and kind guy. From the very moment it became known about Safronov’s detention, his colleagues from the Kommersant newspaper did not stop writing the best characteristics of Vanya, recording videos in his support and, if they were offered to them, they would probably give away an extra kidney, finger and something else, only would their friend soon be free.
It is laudable that Safronov, whose finest hour, apart from his arrest, fell on a scandal a year ago (the politics department of Kommersant was sent to a distant voyage), found many friends and high-profile defenders. But the guys, most of whom consider themselves journalists, would like to recall the elementary truths of their profession: to check the facts, not to trust one source, and especially their own emotions.
Let's start with the main thing: Ivan Safronov is a former journalist. He left the profession, left a society of people with beautiful faces and moved to the "side of evil", becoming an employee of the state corporation "Roskosmos", an adviser to Dmitry Rogozin. The position for some is shallow, for others it is significant, but we can say for sure: it opens up prospects for the future.
At the trial, as a measure of restraint, investigators revealed seven volumes of the criminal case. The Safronov case was carefully prepared for years (identifying contacts, reading correspondence, listening to the phone, conducting external surveillance, recording the facts of transferring money and documents) and detained Ivan only when the evidence base was 100% ready.
From shreds of information coming from the defense side, it is known that Safronov was recruited in the Czech Republic eight years ago; three years ago, at that time, a Kommersant journalist, familiar with generals, admirals and secret scientists, received the first job from the Czech intelligence service, acting in the interests of the United States. In the series by Yuri Bykov "Sleeping" it is very intelligently shown how agents of foreign intelligence "wake up" at the right time and harm their country.
I suppose all this is known to Safronov’s numerous defenders. They know, but do not notice or do not want to notice, because Ivan cannot be a spy, he cannot, and that’s all. Even in the presence of irrefutable evidence, which, perhaps, the investigators will soon release in order to finally remove all the issues that are hanging in the air.
However, it is premature to draw conclusions in the Safronov case, all materials are classified, and the court will determine the degree of guilt of Ivan.
Investigators in the case of high treason can certainly be mistaken, and therefore the primary concern of real journalists, including Safronov’s friends, is not to spend days in pickets and conduct explanatory broadcasts on the radio, proving to themselves the friend’s innocence, but to seek the truth, seek justice .
Another question is whether biased journalists need the business (read: liberal) press really? Svetlana Prokopyeva from the Pskov Echo, convicted at the beginning of the week for acquitting terrorism, for example, pleaded not guilty and believes that the sick bastard who blew herself up in the FSB’s Arkhangelsk reception room is an unfortunate boy who has no choice but to go kill people. That's the truth.
Almost no one, except, perhaps, the prosecutor and the experts involved in the process, did not delve into the case of Prokopieva, did not read the article that served as the reason for the initiation of the criminal case. Anyway - and the motto, and the cry. Running in front of the engine when it comes to “their own” has become a habit in certain circles. There is no time to understand the essence, it is necessary to act - solitary pickets in defense of Prokopieva, Safronov, the hell of the bald and ultimately Khabarovsk Territory Governor Sergei Furgal, detained on Thursday on suspicion of contract killings.
"I / WE Sergey Furgal" - with such posters are LDPR activists in Khabarovsk, St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities. "I / WE ordered the killings" - so you need to understand? Of course, the picketers are unlikely to delve into the essence of the charges against the "opposition". He ordered the killings or not - it does not matter, Furgal committed his main feat in life two years ago - he won the election with the pro-government candidate. The rest is trifles.
A year ago, Ivan Golunov and other innocent guys were recaptured by pickets and a bold information campaign. It was possible to win only thanks to the presence of reinforced concrete evidence of their innocence, which for some unknown reason the investigators did not notice for a long time - the hype in the press opened their eyes.
It is foolish to deny that in the law enforcement system there are no mercenary scum and idiots who want to curry favor, having opened a high-profile case, having first invented it. But it’s doubly stupid to believe, going to the “I / WE” picket, that the main thing is not to prove a person’s innocence, but hysterical cries around his case. There is no smoke without fire - even children know about it.
The state, by the way, in recent years has learned to admit its mistakes and not to cover up “its own”: the numerous cases of governors, ministers, generals of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, representatives of the IC, the FSB and the Ministry of Defense are vivid confirmation of this. True, there is much to grow.
The system, sometimes making well-grounded accusations against journalists and opposition activists, expecting, as in the famous Soviet film, resonance, is obliged to be proactive and not wait for the weather by the sea, withstanding a theatrical pause.
Evidence, if it exists in nature and does not cause bitter laughter, must be presented immediately in order to exclude all insinuations and speculations. And if there are none ... There is no court.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.