Opposition activist in court battle with presidential newspaper
Minsk's Sovietski District Court today is scheduled to hear the lawsuit filed by Ales Mikhalevich, a deputy chairman of the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, against the presidential mouthpiece Sovietskaya Belorussia and its reporter Artsyom Chalyadzinski. The latter turned out to be Pavel Yakubovich, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper.
In the January 11, 2008 issue, the newspaper ran a story which mentioned opposition politicians Ales Mikhalevich and Aliaksandr Milinkevich. In the view of the author of the article, they "never in their life" raised and sold a bucket of potatoes. Mikhalevich felt offended by this statement and decided to sue the newspaper.
Ahead of the hearing, Ales Mikhalevich talked to the European Radio for Belarus. He said:
"I expect the justice to be delivered. I expect that the false information will be denounced. Naturally, I hope that I will manage to win".
Mikhalevich seeks his moral damage to be compensated with Br6160 ($3), the price of one bucket of potatoes in Belarus.
In the January 11, 2008 issue, the newspaper ran a story which mentioned opposition politicians Ales Mikhalevich and Aliaksandr Milinkevich. In the view of the author of the article, they "never in their life" raised and sold a bucket of potatoes. Mikhalevich felt offended by this statement and decided to sue the newspaper.
Ahead of the hearing, Ales Mikhalevich talked to the European Radio for Belarus. He said:
"I expect the justice to be delivered. I expect that the false information will be denounced. Naturally, I hope that I will manage to win".
Mikhalevich seeks his moral damage to be compensated with Br6160 ($3), the price of one bucket of potatoes in Belarus.
