COSTLY CLAIMS: LIBEL AND SLANDER CHARGES AGAINST MEDIA MOST OFTEN SETTLED OUT OF COURT
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter
13.03.12 | 16:01
“Aravot” daily editor-in-chief Aram Abrahamyan (left) and lawyer
Davit Tumasyan
The numerous civil claims against mass media for insult and slander
that sprang up last year were settle out of court, according to
attorneys who say both sides preferred settlements to drawn-out trials.
At a press conference on Tuesday attorney Davit Tumasyan stated that
the abundance of the claims caused Armenia’s Ombudsman to challenge the
law at the Constitutional Court. Editors of some Armenian newspapers
have also made a statement, urging to review the decriminalization of
the law, because they result in the newspapers’ bankruptcy. However,
the Constitutional Court considered the law to be corresponding to
the Constitution of Armenia.
In 2011, 12 civil claims under Law on “Defamation and Insult” were
lodged against four newspapers.
Last year former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan’s son appealed
to the court demanding more than 16 million drams (about $41,000) as
“compensation for the damage caused to their reputation and dignity”
from Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Time) daily. The court has partly
upheld the claim, and Haykakan Zhamanak had to pay about 3.5 million
drams (about $9,000).
Tumasyan says that judging by the completed court cases one can note
that the court forces newspapers to publish a refutation article and
provide a financial compensation.
Editor-in-chief of Aravot (Morning) daily Aram Abrahamyan says that the
decriminalization of the law (making libel and slander civil charges)
was followed by a wave of court claims.
“Oligarchs and not only they were inspired, believing that they would
manage to bankrupt this or that newspaper,” Abrahamyan says.
Abrahamyan, addressing journalists, says that in case of showing proper
professionalism, if there is no intention to cause somebody pain,
but it is simply necessary to report news, then the sharpest thing can
be said in such a way that reportage does not end up as a court case.
“Of course, I do not advise to retreat from journalistic freedom
either,” Abrahamyan concludes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
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