Belarus senator sues independent journalist in libel case
Minsk's Pershamayski District Court today opened a hearing of the lawsuit filed by Senator Mikalai Charhinets against journalist Alexander Tamkovich for his political essay in the independent newspaper Novy Chas (The New Times). The senator says his honor and business reputation were damaged and is seeking compensation. Aliaksei Karol, the editor-in-chief of the Novy Chas newspaper, noted that the article titled "General and Senator Mikalai Chahrynets" is one in a series of at least 18 essays portraying the famous political figures like Shushkevich, Kebich, Paznyak, Hryb, Myasnikovich and others. None of them has had any claims against his newspaper, Karol said.
Charhinets did not appear in court today. His lawyers read out a letter from Tamkovich who expressed his deep regret that the publication had offended the politician.
Charhinets's lawyer stressed that Tamkovich failed to apologize. But she said that Charhinets took it into account that the journalist had no intention to degrade the honor of the politician. The plaintiff thus reduced the amount of compensation from Br50 million ($25,000) to Br5 million from Tamkovich and from Br 500 million ($250,000) to Br 50 million from the publisher.
Charhinets felt offended by a paragraph in ther story about "literary slaves". The general also went furious when Tamkovich wrote that his works were of low quality.
The defense responded to every charge and asked to carry out a linguistic expertise, because "the sides had a different understanding of what the written words meant". Tamkovich said that he would not back off from what he wrote and that he was right on every point.
Charhinets did not appear in court today. His lawyers read out a letter from Tamkovich who expressed his deep regret that the publication had offended the politician.
Charhinets's lawyer stressed that Tamkovich failed to apologize. But she said that Charhinets took it into account that the journalist had no intention to degrade the honor of the politician. The plaintiff thus reduced the amount of compensation from Br50 million ($25,000) to Br5 million from Tamkovich and from Br 500 million ($250,000) to Br 50 million from the publisher.
Charhinets felt offended by a paragraph in ther story about "literary slaves". The general also went furious when Tamkovich wrote that his works were of low quality.
The defense responded to every charge and asked to carry out a linguistic expertise, because "the sides had a different understanding of what the written words meant". Tamkovich said that he would not back off from what he wrote and that he was right on every point.
