Free Media Awards
2010
Mikhail Beketov - Russia
Mikhail Beketov was editor and founder of the local newspaper Khimkinskaya Pravda, in which he wrote, for example, a series of articles about preserving the forest lands in Khimki (a suburb of Moscow), while the local authorities were building a new motorway from St. Petersburg to Moscow.
After receiving threats for his journalistic activities, Beketov was assaulted and beaten in 2008. He was disabled and became an invalid as a result of the attack.
Beketov was nominated by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights House Foundation, Oslo. The prize is EUR 10 000.