Hurt but guilty

The Khimki Magistrate Court found journalist Mikhail Beketov guilty of slandering Mayor Vladimir Strelchenko and sentenced him to a fine of 5 thousand rubles. This case was opened back in 2007: the mayor considered Beketov’s statement in one of his interviews that Strelchenko might be involved in the bombing of his car to be slander. Beketov then stated literally the following: “I believe that this is political terrorism, in which Vladimir Strelchenko was the customer, and unknown persons were the perpetrators.” Since then, the journalist, editor-in-chief of Khimki Pravda, the first of those who began to speak openly about the problem of the Khimki forest and corruption in the city government, was subjected to a brutal attack, as a result of which he became disabled - his leg was amputated, several fingers on his hand, he can hardly speak.

Strelchenko first appeared in court on November 9 (Beketov had previously come to court in a wheelchair, but the plaintiff never arrived) and stated that he saw no reason to withdraw his statement. At the same time, he said that he had no complaints against his opponent, considered what happened to him to be a tragedy, and was even ready to provide him with personal assistance. Beketov, for his part, refused to go to peace.

The court demanded from Beketov an amount higher than that requested by prosecutor Zaur Kipov (who only appeared at the trial on November 9 - he was replacing a sick colleague - and did not have time to understand the essence of the case) - the prosecutor spoke about three thousand. However, Beketov will not have to pay - since what the court considered a crime, namely the journalist’s statement in an interview, was committed on May 24, 2007, the statute of limitations has already expired.

According to the decision of Judge Arkady Khalatov, Beketov’s guilt is confirmed by the testimony of witnesses, as well as evidence collected in the case, including a video recording of the journalist’s television speech. At the same time, the court mercifully took into account the state of health of the accused, as well as the fact that Beketov was brought to criminal responsibility for the first time.

The court found that the crime was committed by Beketov on May 24, 2007. Therefore, the statute of limitations for bringing him to justice has expired and the journalist has been released from punishment.

Beketov's lawyer Andrei Stolbunov said that he would seek to have the verdict overturned and his client acquitted. If this cannot be achieved in Russian courts, you will have to turn to international authorities.

On November 14 in Moscow, a rally in support of Beketov will be held at the monument to Griboyedov on Chistye Prudy, dedicated to the second anniversary of the attack on him. The rally participants will speak out against attacks on journalists and will remember the recent reprisals against Oleg Kashin and Right Cause activist Konstantin Fetisov.