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| Russian journalist who campaigned against new highway dies after assault | Russian journalist who campaigned against new highway dies after assault |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Mikhail Beketov, a Russian journalist who suffered brain damage and lost a leg after a brutal assault that followed his campaign against a highway project outside Moscow, has died aged 55. | Mikhail Beketov, a Russian journalist who suffered brain damage and lost a leg after a brutal assault that followed his campaign against a highway project outside Moscow, has died aged 55. |
| His lawyer, Stalina Gurevitch, told the Rapsi news agency that Beketov had died in a hospital on Monday after choking on food. | His lawyer, Stalina Gurevitch, told the Rapsi news agency that Beketov had died in a hospital on Monday after choking on food. |
| Beketov was part of a group fighting the construction of a highway through the Khimki forest, near Moscow. The founder and editor of a Khimki newspaper, he was among the first to raise the alarm about the destruction of the forest and suspicions that local officials were profiting from the project. | Beketov was part of a group fighting the construction of a highway through the Khimki forest, near Moscow. The founder and editor of a Khimki newspaper, he was among the first to raise the alarm about the destruction of the forest and suspicions that local officials were profiting from the project. |
| He refused to back down even after his dog was left dead on his doorstep and his car was set on fire. | He refused to back down even after his dog was left dead on his doorstep and his car was set on fire. |
| Several people with high-profile political connections reportedly stood to profit from the highway's construction, including Arkady Rotenberg, a billionaire who once taught judo to the president, Vladimir Putin. Road construction is one of the most corrupt sectors of Russia's economy, with numerous opportunities for kickbacks and bribes. | Several people with high-profile political connections reportedly stood to profit from the highway's construction, including Arkady Rotenberg, a billionaire who once taught judo to the president, Vladimir Putin. Road construction is one of the most corrupt sectors of Russia's economy, with numerous opportunities for kickbacks and bribes. |
| In November 2008, Beketov was beaten so viciously that he was unable to speak. He was in a coma for several months and spent more than two years in hospital. His attackers were never identified. | In November 2008, Beketov was beaten so viciously that he was unable to speak. He was in a coma for several months and spent more than two years in hospital. His attackers were never identified. |
| Several other journalists and environmentalists who campaigned against the project have been attacked. | Several other journalists and environmentalists who campaigned against the project have been attacked. |
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