Russian Reporter Beaten to Near Death After Challenging Corruption

A Russian reporter known for challenging corruption has been beaten nearly to death. Mikhail Beketov the editor of a newspaper in the Khimki suburb of Moscow was found on November 13 in his home covered in blood and with multiple fractures. He is currently in a coma at Moscow's Sklifosovsky Institute hospital floating between life and death with one of his legs having already been amputated and a needed surgery having been delayed due to the graveness of his condition. The hospital has also received numerous threatening calls regarding Beketov.

The owner and editor of the newspaper Khimskaya Pravda, Beketov had adamantly opposed the removal of a forest in his town to make way for a road, he also wrote regularly about corruption within the local government of his town. Attacks and threats against reporters are commonplace in Russia, particularly against those who criticize or publicize corruption in overlaps between politics and business there.

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LINKS:

The Guardian: Accused appear in Russian court as Politkovskaya trial begins

Javno: World - Russian reporter "near death"

Chtodelat News: The war on Russian activists continues: Mikhail Beketov beaten half to death