On February 11, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan revoked the motion of “Zhoghovurd” newspaper’s founder, "Editorial Office of ‘Zhoghovurd’ Daily" LLC, and the daily’s correspondent Sona Grigorian on lifting the ban put on their property. As we have reported, the arrest on the property was put as a measure to secure the suit of the businessman Khachik Khachatrian and his company "Yerevan Poultry" versus “Zhoghovurd” founder and Sona Grigorian. The plaintiffs contested the article "Famous Oligarch Fined for Selling Expired Eggs", published by "Zhoghovurd" on December 11, 2012. They demanded a refutation and compensation of moral damage, caused by libel and insult, in the amount of 3 mln AMD (about $ 7,300). The lawsuit was taken to consideration on January 10, 2013; the preliminary court hearings are assigned on March 22 (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, January 25-31, 2013 and February 1-7, 2013).
Meanwhile, at the end of last year the founder of “Zhoghovurd” and Sona Grigorian had brought a lawsuit against Khachik Khachatrian for his insulting statements about the journalist. The plaintiffs demanded public apologies (see “‘Zhoghovurd’ Daily Demands Public Apologies from Khachik Khachatrian”, “Zhoghovurd”, December 22, 2012). The suit was taken into consideration by the Court of General Jurisdiction of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Districts of Yerevan on December 28, 2012; the preliminary hearings are assigned on March 21.
In his turn, Khachik Khachatrian disputed the abovementioned article on December 22, 2012. Under the lawsuit versus “Zhoghovurd” founder and Sona Grigorian the businessman demanded refutation of the information, discrediting his honor, dignity and business reputation, and pecuniary compensation of 3,200,000 AMD (3 mln for moral damage, caused by libel and insult, and 200,000 — attorney’s fees). The suit was taken into consideration by the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan on January 25, 2013; the preliminary hearings are assigned on March 20.
