Chilling reports from Russia this week about the defamation trial of Mikhail Beketov, a former chief editor of Khimkinskaya Pravda. Beketov is being sued by the mayor of Khimki. In 2008 he was beaten so badly by unidentified assailants following publication of reports challenging Khimki authorities that he must travel to court by ambulance, reports Radio Free Europe.

More details of Beketov’s case are reported by The Moscow News.