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CLAIMS AND COUNTER CLAIMS: NEWSPAPER IN ROW WITH BUSINESSMAN
News | 07.02.13 | 16:03
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Since the beginning of this year oppositional Zhoghovurd daily has
been sued twice by the same person. The editorial staff and the
editor-in-chief believe that the claimant - owner of X Group company
Khachik Khachatryan - has started this campaign against the newspaper
in order to disrupt its natural workflow during the election campaign
period.
Zhoghovurd editor-in-chief Taguhi Tovmasyan told ArmeniaNow that the
lawsuits filed by Khachatryan, who allegedly has close ties with the
authorities, have "direct connection to the presidential elections".
The first time Khachatryan turned to the court in January with a demand
to refute one of the publications that "marred his honor and dignity,
as well as business reputation", and claimed 3 million drams (some
$7,400) compensation. The second complaint was this week with a demand
of the same compensation amount plus additional $500 attorney fees.
The article in question was published on December 11, 2012, in which
the newspaper accused Yerevan Poultry Factory belonging to Khachatryan
in marketing expired eggs. The article had a quote from Khachatryan
denying these accusations. The following day a Zhoghovurd reporter met
the businessman again, and during the meeting he, allegedly, said: "My
dear, you are not a reporter, you are a prostitute. You can publish
that, too." The newspaper demanded an apology and not receiving
it turned to the court on December 28 for moral compensation. In
response, the businessman in his turn filed his complaints against
the newspaper. The court ruled to put a 3 million dram ($7,400)
lien on the newspaper property.
The editor points out that Khachatryan "realized he had been insulted
by the article written a month before" only after they filed their
lawsuit. She says this whole thing is aimed at putting psychological
pressure on the newspaper and making it be more reserved in its
publications: it is campaign period, meanwhile the paper is distracted
by official correspondence instead of journalistic activities,
she says.
Tovmasyan claims the highest circles of power are backing Khachatryan.
"President Serzh Sargsyan's son-in-law Michael Minasyan, his God
father Barsegh Beglaryan, chief of presidential staff Vigen Sargsyan.
These people are guiding, to put it mildly, Khacahtryan to act
against Zhoghovurd paper, hindering its activities. Otherwise it is
hard to understand how the court reacted so quickly and put a ban on
our property, when we were the first to file a lawsuit against him,
and our hearing is scheduled for later," says Tovmasyan.
Khachatryan denies this kind of deliberation and claims his only
purpose is to make the newspaper bear responsibility for every word
it writes.
It is noteworthy that in 2012 no lawsuits were filed against
Armenia-based news outlets. While before the 2011 ruling of the
Constitutional Court clearly defining the criteria by which punitive
measures are applicable to Armenian media, numerous cases were filed
by businessmen against local media with demands of major financial
compensations.
http://armenianow.com/news/43267/zhoghovurd_daily_khachik_khachatryan_taguhi_tovmas yan
From: A. Papazian
News | 07.02.13 | 16:03
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Since the beginning of this year oppositional Zhoghovurd daily has
been sued twice by the same person. The editorial staff and the
editor-in-chief believe that the claimant - owner of X Group company
Khachik Khachatryan - has started this campaign against the newspaper
in order to disrupt its natural workflow during the election campaign
period.
Zhoghovurd editor-in-chief Taguhi Tovmasyan told ArmeniaNow that the
lawsuits filed by Khachatryan, who allegedly has close ties with the
authorities, have "direct connection to the presidential elections".
The first time Khachatryan turned to the court in January with a demand
to refute one of the publications that "marred his honor and dignity,
as well as business reputation", and claimed 3 million drams (some
$7,400) compensation. The second complaint was this week with a demand
of the same compensation amount plus additional $500 attorney fees.
The article in question was published on December 11, 2012, in which
the newspaper accused Yerevan Poultry Factory belonging to Khachatryan
in marketing expired eggs. The article had a quote from Khachatryan
denying these accusations. The following day a Zhoghovurd reporter met
the businessman again, and during the meeting he, allegedly, said: "My
dear, you are not a reporter, you are a prostitute. You can publish
that, too." The newspaper demanded an apology and not receiving
it turned to the court on December 28 for moral compensation. In
response, the businessman in his turn filed his complaints against
the newspaper. The court ruled to put a 3 million dram ($7,400)
lien on the newspaper property.
The editor points out that Khachatryan "realized he had been insulted
by the article written a month before" only after they filed their
lawsuit. She says this whole thing is aimed at putting psychological
pressure on the newspaper and making it be more reserved in its
publications: it is campaign period, meanwhile the paper is distracted
by official correspondence instead of journalistic activities,
she says.
Tovmasyan claims the highest circles of power are backing Khachatryan.
"President Serzh Sargsyan's son-in-law Michael Minasyan, his God
father Barsegh Beglaryan, chief of presidential staff Vigen Sargsyan.
These people are guiding, to put it mildly, Khacahtryan to act
against Zhoghovurd paper, hindering its activities. Otherwise it is
hard to understand how the court reacted so quickly and put a ban on
our property, when we were the first to file a lawsuit against him,
and our hearing is scheduled for later," says Tovmasyan.
Khachatryan denies this kind of deliberation and claims his only
purpose is to make the newspaper bear responsibility for every word
it writes.
It is noteworthy that in 2012 no lawsuits were filed against
Armenia-based news outlets. While before the 2011 ruling of the
Constitutional Court clearly defining the criteria by which punitive
measures are applicable to Armenian media, numerous cases were filed
by businessmen against local media with demands of major financial
compensations.
http://armenianow.com/news/43267/zhoghovurd_daily_khachik_khachatryan_taguhi_tovmas yan
From: A. Papazian