Russia to build disputed motorway through Khimki forest

The Russian government has announced that a project to build a motorway through the pristine Khimki forest near Moscow will go ahead, reports BBC News.

President Dmitry Medvedev put the project on hold this summer after protests about the route for the new Moscow-St Petersburg motorway.

The plan has divided public opinion and several journalists who reported on the row were attacked and beaten up.

Cabinet ministers said the Khimki stretch would be ready by 2014.