It's because Plu is not Putin. If Zhurankov said anyhing like that about Putin, he would end up jobless and with criminal records with fine to pay. Which sadly means one thing- there's only one person in Russia for whom the written laws are fully in apply.
The civil case that police and Plu lawyer offered is not an option. It would end up with the court statement that the operation indeed took place and that is all. Who needs it? I mean is there any idiot who doesn't know that the operation did happen? At least two Russian sport commentators in similar cases lost in civil trials (Guberniev and Utkin). They both are working as sport commentators now. Meaning- criminal trial would mean way more for this social garbage representatives and the consequances of that.