Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MINSK101
2008-02-12 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
HEFTY LIBEL JUDGMENT UPHELD FOR INDEPENDENT PAPER
how-toVZCZCXRO6001 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSK #0101 0431531 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 121531Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6900 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0378 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1826 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 000101
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KPAO BO
SUBJECT: HEFTY LIBEL JUDGMENT UPHELD FOR INDEPENDENT PAPER
Ref: 07 Minsk 1048
UNCLAS MINSK 000101
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KPAO BO
SUBJECT: HEFTY LIBEL JUDGMENT UPHELD FOR INDEPENDENT PAPER
Ref: 07 Minsk 1048
1. (SBU) A three judge appeal panel of Minsk's City Court upheld
the December 20, 2007 verdict of libel against the independent
newspaper "Novy Chas" (reftel). The panel left in place a BYR 50
million (USD 23,245) judgment against the paper and a BYR 1 million
(USD 465) judgment against journalist Aleksandr Tamkovich for an
article published in "Novy Chas" and deemed libelous of the speaker
of the (appointed) upper house of Belarus' parliament, Nikolay
Cherginets. The appellate hearing, which was open to the public and
attended by Pol/Econ Chief, a diplomat from the Czech Embassy, and
several members of Belarus' independent media community, lasted less
than ninety minutes.
Comment
--------------
2. (SBU) Cherginets' absence from the courtroom, both during the
original trial and the appeal, was noteworthy. One could suppose
that a person whose honor had been offended by an alleged libel
would defend his reputation in person; perhaps, in Cherginets' case,
he was merely certain that Belarusian "justice" would see the matter
his way. The refusal of the appeal was expected; the judgment --
about five months' operating budget for the paper -- threatens the
viability of "Novy Chas."
Stewart
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KPAO BO
SUBJECT: HEFTY LIBEL JUDGMENT UPHELD FOR INDEPENDENT PAPER
Ref: 07 Minsk 1048
1. (SBU) A three judge appeal panel of Minsk's City Court upheld
the December 20, 2007 verdict of libel against the independent
newspaper "Novy Chas" (reftel). The panel left in place a BYR 50
million (USD 23,245) judgment against the paper and a BYR 1 million
(USD 465) judgment against journalist Aleksandr Tamkovich for an
article published in "Novy Chas" and deemed libelous of the speaker
of the (appointed) upper house of Belarus' parliament, Nikolay
Cherginets. The appellate hearing, which was open to the public and
attended by Pol/Econ Chief, a diplomat from the Czech Embassy, and
several members of Belarus' independent media community, lasted less
than ninety minutes.
Comment
--------------
2. (SBU) Cherginets' absence from the courtroom, both during the
original trial and the appeal, was noteworthy. One could suppose
that a person whose honor had been offended by an alleged libel
would defend his reputation in person; perhaps, in Cherginets' case,
he was merely certain that Belarusian "justice" would see the matter
his way. The refusal of the appeal was expected; the judgment --
about five months' operating budget for the paper -- threatens the
viability of "Novy Chas."
Stewart