News broke at the end of last week that a slander verdict delivered last month against Russian journalist Mikhail Beketov has been overturned.

Beketov, who was left handicapped in 2008 by a beating thought to be provoked by his reporting, was convicted of defamation and fined in November.

But on Friday it was widely reported that a Russian court had overturned the verdict. Press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders said it welcomes the decision.