Mikhail Beketov
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Vasilyevich Beketov (Russian
: Михаил Васильевич Бекетов; born 10 January 1958) is a Russian journalist who came to widespread attention when he was attacked in an assault thought to be connected with his coverage of the construction of the Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway
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and worked on the Baikal-Amur motorway. He later moved to Khimki and started publishing a newspaper - Khimkinskaya Pravda (Химкинская правда, i.e. Khimki Truth). In the paper he frequently criticised the local administration for corruption.
, near Moscow
. He claims to have received warnings from local officials to desist his coverage, and his car was set on fire and his dog killed. Finally, on 13 November 2008 he was beaten up, suffering brain damage
and losing his right leg and four fingers. The attack took place outside his home in Khimki
. Beketov underwent eight operations and now uses a wheelchair.
, of criminal activity in relation to the building of the motorway. In turn, Strelchenko has sued Beketov for libel and a trial is now underway (November 2010).
from Kommersant
.
On 27 November 2010 a group of concerned people visited Mikhail Beketov in his home. They presented him with 501 roses and held a concert. The money for the roses had been collected from sympathisers on the Internet, so that each person could buy one rose.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Михаил Васильевич Бекетов; born 10 January 1958) is a Russian journalist who came to widespread attention when he was attacked in an assault thought to be connected with his coverage of the construction of the Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway
Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway
The Moscow – Saint Petersburg motorway is a planned toll road between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The first section of the motorway is to be finished in 2013. The road will run parallel to the M10 highway. Its construction has been met with strong protest from environmentalist groups and...
.
Career
Beketov graduated from Moscow State UniversityMoscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
and worked on the Baikal-Amur motorway. He later moved to Khimki and started publishing a newspaper - Khimkinskaya Pravda (Химкинская правда, i.e. Khimki Truth). In the paper he frequently criticised the local administration for corruption.
Motorway opposition
Beketov covered the construction of the motorway and its potential damage to the environment, particularly around the area of the Khimki ForestKhimki Forest
Khimki Forest is a birch tree forest in the Russian city of Moscow covering about 1000 hectares. It is part of the so-called "Green Belt" around Moscow. An $8 billion dollar high speed road has been proposed to go through the forest to connect Moscow and Saint Petersburg. For this purpose, part of...
, near Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He claims to have received warnings from local officials to desist his coverage, and his car was set on fire and his dog killed. Finally, on 13 November 2008 he was beaten up, suffering brain damage
Brain damage
"Brain damage" or "brain injury" is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors...
and losing his right leg and four fingers. The attack took place outside his home in Khimki
Khimki
Khimki is a city in Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated just northwest of Moscow, at the west bank of the Moscow Canal. Population: 207,125 ; 141,000 ; 106,000 ; 23,000 .-History:...
. Beketov underwent eight operations and now uses a wheelchair.
Trial
Beketov accused the local mayor, Vladimir StrelchenkoVladimir Strelchenko
Vladimir Strelchenko is the current mayor of Khimki, a Russian town in Moscow Oblast, in the vicinity of Moscow. He had made his career in the Soviet and Russian army, participating in the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the late 1980s and retiring in 1999 as Colonel. Subsequently, he worked as an...
, of criminal activity in relation to the building of the motorway. In turn, Strelchenko has sued Beketov for libel and a trial is now underway (November 2010).
Intimidation of opposition activists
The media have linked Beketov's attack to a wider series of assaults on other journalists and activists connected to the building of the motorway. Among them are: Anatoliy Adamchuk from Zhukovskiye Vesti and Oleg KashinOleg Kashin
Oleg Kashin is a former seaman and a prominent Russian journalist.-Career:Kashin graduated from the Baltic State Fishing Fleet Academy with a degree in sea navigation in 2001. While studying, he wrote for Komsomolskaya Pravda in Kaliningrad where he expressed rather sharp views...
from Kommersant
Kommersant
Kommersant is a commerce-oriented newspaper published in Russia. , the circulation was 131,000.- History :The newspaper was initially published in 1909, and it was closed down following the Bolshevik seizure of power and the introduction of censorship in 1917.In 1989, with the onset of press...
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Solidarity with Mikail Beketov
In the autumn of 2010 a series of rallies was held in Moscow and elsewhere against persecution of civil activists and journalists in Russia.On 27 November 2010 a group of concerned people visited Mikhail Beketov in his home. They presented him with 501 roses and held a concert. The money for the roses had been collected from sympathisers on the Internet, so that each person could buy one rose.
External links
- Profile (in Russian)
- Defence of the Khimki Forest A Facebook group about the Khimki forest and Mikhail Beketov.