Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK997
2007-12-06 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
INDEPENDENT PAPER FACES DEBILITATING LIBEL SUIT
how-toVZCZCXRO5360 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0997 3401440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061440Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6694 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1746 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000997
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PAPER FACES DEBILITATING LIBEL SUIT
REF: 06 MINSK 305
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000997
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PAPER FACES DEBILITATING LIBEL SUIT
REF: 06 MINSK 305
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (SBU) On December 5, Minsk Judge Alena Anannich agreed to
hear a libel suit filed by vitriolic Belarusian
parliamentarian Nikolay Cherginets against the independent
weekly newspaper "Novy Chas" and journalist Aleksandr
Tamkovich. Cherginets' suit demands the paper withdraw
Tamkovich's September 24 article, which, according to
Cherginets, damaged his reputation by linking him to a
controversial Soviet-era criminal prosecution. Moreover, the
suit seeks damages of USD 232,000 and USD 46,000 from the
paper and Tamkovich respectively. At the courthouse
immediately before the proceedings, the paper's editor
Aleksey Korol confidently predicted to POLOFF that Cherginets
would seek an out-of-court settlement. However, upon hearing
that litigation would continue on December 19, Korol seemed
forlorn and noted that losing the case would likely cause his
paper's closure.
Comment
--------------
2. (C) Given Cherginets' staunch support for Lukashenko and
the GOB's suppression of Korol's opposition newspaper "Zgoda"
during the 2006 presidential elections (reftel),the decision
to continue these proceedings is not surprising. The regime
might regard the threat of closure (or the actual closure) of
"Novy Chas" -- one of the few registered independent print
outlets for pro-democracy forces -- as an effective means to
intimidate other independent media organizations as they
prepare to cover Belarus' 2008 parliamentary elections.
MOORE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: INDEPENDENT PAPER FACES DEBILITATING LIBEL SUIT
REF: 06 MINSK 305
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (SBU) On December 5, Minsk Judge Alena Anannich agreed to
hear a libel suit filed by vitriolic Belarusian
parliamentarian Nikolay Cherginets against the independent
weekly newspaper "Novy Chas" and journalist Aleksandr
Tamkovich. Cherginets' suit demands the paper withdraw
Tamkovich's September 24 article, which, according to
Cherginets, damaged his reputation by linking him to a
controversial Soviet-era criminal prosecution. Moreover, the
suit seeks damages of USD 232,000 and USD 46,000 from the
paper and Tamkovich respectively. At the courthouse
immediately before the proceedings, the paper's editor
Aleksey Korol confidently predicted to POLOFF that Cherginets
would seek an out-of-court settlement. However, upon hearing
that litigation would continue on December 19, Korol seemed
forlorn and noted that losing the case would likely cause his
paper's closure.
Comment
--------------
2. (C) Given Cherginets' staunch support for Lukashenko and
the GOB's suppression of Korol's opposition newspaper "Zgoda"
during the 2006 presidential elections (reftel),the decision
to continue these proceedings is not surprising. The regime
might regard the threat of closure (or the actual closure) of
"Novy Chas" -- one of the few registered independent print
outlets for pro-democracy forces -- as an effective means to
intimidate other independent media organizations as they
prepare to cover Belarus' 2008 parliamentary elections.
MOORE