(CJES/IFEX) – Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov has won a defamation lawsuit against the “Kommersant” newspaper, Ekho Moskvy radio reported on 7 February 2007. The lawsuit was filed over an article entitled “Commandante of Chechnya”, run by “Kommersant” on 15 July 2006, which contained statements made by Vissarion Aseyev, the head of the non-governmental organisation […]
(CJES/IFEX) – Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov has won a defamation lawsuit against the “Kommersant” newspaper, Ekho Moskvy radio reported on 7 February 2007.
The lawsuit was filed over an article entitled “Commandante of Chechnya”, run by “Kommersant” on 15 July 2006, which contained statements made by Vissarion Aseyev, the head of the non-governmental organisation United Civil Front in North Ossetia, that the court found to be defamatory to Kadyrov. In particular, the author of the article quoted Aseyev as saying that “Kadyrov’s place is not in the prime minister’s chair, but in an electric chair”, and that his administration is supported by “the federal administration” and “if the federal servicemen leave, Kadyrov will have problems”. In addition, Aseyev was quoted as saying that the title of the “Hero of Russia”, awarded to Kadyrov, is “a stain and a disgrace to everyone who has this title”.
The court ordered the paper to publish the text of the ruling and pay Kadyrov compensation in the amount of 10,000 rubles (approx. US$380).
“Kommersant” editor-in-chief Andrei Vasilyev told Ekho Moskvy that the newspaper will fulfil the ruling. He stressed that only part of the publication was found defamatory to Kadyrov.
Aseyev, in turn, said in an interview with the Internet publication “Kavkazsky Uzel” that the ruling was a predictable one. “I do not have the case materials yet, but I believe the ruling is ungrounded as it violates the constitutional right of citizens to express their opinion. At the same time, no one doubted that the court would take Mr. Kadyrov’s side,” he said.
“Kommersant” intends to file an appeal.
