On September 29 RA Civil Court of Appeal started hearing the complaint of founder and publisher of “Zhamanak” daily, “Skizb Media Kentron” LLC. The latter had contested the court ruling on the suit of the spouse and the son of the Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, Bella and Sedrak Kocharians. As it has been reported, the reason of the litigation became the pieces published in “Zhamanak” on September 25, September 29 and October 7, 2010. The articles dealt with a number of companies, which were reportedly owned by the Kocharians’ family or managed through the third parties. The plaintiffs demanded to bind “Zhamanak” to refute the information damaging the honor, dignity and business reputation of Bella and Sedrak Kocharians, exact 3 million AMD (about $ 8,200) from the respondent as compensation for libel and defamation, as well as pay off the court expenses of 3 million AMD. On June 6 the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts of Yerevan secured the suit partially, binding the respondent to refute the information, damaging the honor, dignity and business reputation of Bella and Sedrak Kocharians, as well as pay off the plaintiffs 3 million AMD as compensation for libel and insult (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 3-9, 2011).
The next session of the Court of Appeal may take place on October 6.
