Yerevan Court Rules in Favor of Plaintiff: Local Daily to Pay MP

The Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron (“Center”) and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan made public today its ruling in the case of MP Tigran Arzakantsyan vs. local daily Yerkir (“Country”).

Recall, the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) deputy filed a lawsuit against the daily, claiming that the newspaper sullied his honor and dignity in an article as part of a series titled “131 faces and masks” in Yerkir’s Jan. 13 issue.

The MP was demanding 3 million 568 thousand AMD (about $9,775 US) in compensation: 3 million AMD (about $8,219 US) in damages for insult and libel; 500,000 AMD (about $1,370 US) for lawyer fees incurred; and 68,000 AMD (about $186 US) for court expenses.

The court’s decision ruled in favor of the plaintiff and the daily now has to pay Arzakantsyan 280,000 drams (about $747 USD), 80,000 drams (about $213 USD) of which are for court expenses.

Yerkir’s attorney and the chief editor have stated that they will make a final decision on whether to appeal the decision or not once they’ve become more acquainted with the ruling.