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ARMENIA MARKS DOWN THE PRICE OF LIBEL
by Giorgi Lomsadze
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64526
Nov 16 2011
NY
Just in time for the 2012 parliamentary elections, Armenia's
Constitutional Court has instructed lower courts to make defamation
compensation proportional to the size of media companies' wallets.
The November 15 ruling, the response to a case brought by Ombudsman
Karen Andreasian and eight local newspapers, can make life easier
for the Armenian news industry, which has faced a rise in libel suits
and hefty fines that media observers link to 2010 amendments of media
laws, which decriminalized slander, but also toughened the penalties
for libel.
That has meant a serious problem for some print outlets with a
penchant for government criticism. Armenian newspapers, mostly
shoestring operations, have struggled to pay thousands of dollars in
damages. One even asked its readers to help foot the bill, Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
Since the 2010 changes, "almost 30 civil defamation lawsuits have
been brought against newspapers, including 11 this year," said Dunja
Mijatovic, media freedom representative of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe. "In most cases, the compensation
sought is out of proportion to the damage allegedly inflicted."
But the Constitutional Court's ruling does not mean that Armenian
media is now off the hook. Ombudsman Karen Andreasian welcomed the
ruling, but also said that the legislation is too ambiguous on the
matter of slander, leaving too much room for broad interpretations
in the plaintiff's favor.
by Giorgi Lomsadze
EurasiaNet.org
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/64526
Nov 16 2011
NY
Just in time for the 2012 parliamentary elections, Armenia's
Constitutional Court has instructed lower courts to make defamation
compensation proportional to the size of media companies' wallets.
The November 15 ruling, the response to a case brought by Ombudsman
Karen Andreasian and eight local newspapers, can make life easier
for the Armenian news industry, which has faced a rise in libel suits
and hefty fines that media observers link to 2010 amendments of media
laws, which decriminalized slander, but also toughened the penalties
for libel.
That has meant a serious problem for some print outlets with a
penchant for government criticism. Armenian newspapers, mostly
shoestring operations, have struggled to pay thousands of dollars in
damages. One even asked its readers to help foot the bill, Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty reports.
Since the 2010 changes, "almost 30 civil defamation lawsuits have
been brought against newspapers, including 11 this year," said Dunja
Mijatovic, media freedom representative of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe. "In most cases, the compensation
sought is out of proportion to the damage allegedly inflicted."
But the Constitutional Court's ruling does not mean that Armenian
media is now off the hook. Ombudsman Karen Andreasian welcomed the
ruling, but also said that the legislation is too ambiguous on the
matter of slander, leaving too much room for broad interpretations
in the plaintiff's favor.