Mikhail Beketov died

Khimki journalist Mikhail Beketov, the man through whom people learned about the Khimki Forest outside the city, has died. Beketov was the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Khimkinskaya Pravda, where he wrote about the arbitrariness of local authorities, in particular, about plans to cut down the Khimki forest for the construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg highway. On November 13, 2008, Beketov was brutally beaten near his home. As a result of this brutal attack, he became disabled of the first group. His leg and three fingers on his hand were amputated, and he almost lost the ability to speak. Beketov died in a Khimki hospital.

After the attack, Beketov became a victim of prosecution. The then mayor of Khimki, Vladimir Strelchenko, whom the journalist accused of various violations, sued him for libel when Beketov suspected him of organizing the arson of his car. The Khimki City Court found Beketov guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 5 thousand rubles, but released him from paying the fine due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The case of the attack was never brought to an end.