Today, on April 2, Yekaterinburg district court turned down
the libel claim motioned by the city Mayor Arkady Chernetsky
against deputy of the city Duma and leader of the local branch
of YABLOKO Maxim Petlin. The court charged the Mayor RUR 20,000
(about USD 700) for compensation of the legal costs incurred
by Maxim Petlin.
Chernetsky started a legal case against Petlin after the latter
said in the TV programme that Chernetsky had “sold half of
kindergartens buildings”. The Mayor called this phrase a libel
and motioned a libel case against Petlin. The second defender
in the court was Rossiya television channel which had broadcasted
Petlin’s interview and showed an item on alienation of large
number of kindergartens in favour of Chernetsky’s family members.
“My victory in court is an illustration that Yekaterinburg
problems should not be ignored,” Petlin said. He also expressed
his gratitude to Judge Galina Pronyayeva for her “firm position
and will”. “From now on every resident of our city can make
his/her own judgment whether Mr.Chernetsky has honour and
dignity,” he added.
Sverdlovsk YABLOKO proposed how to solve the problem of deficit
of places in kindergartens. These initiatives were discussed
in the city Administration and local parliament, but were
not taken into account.
See also:
Ekaterinburg’s Mayor
suits the leader of the regional YABLOKO branch. Press Release,
January 27, 2010.
Human
Rights
Freedom
of Speech
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