"This is a verdict against each newspaper"
"Right and Freedom Center" has issued a statement slamming the February 7 verdict against an Armenian opposition newspaper.
"Armenian courts have become a tool in the hands of authorities. The regime is using courts to silence the press as they have done with the television for years. The Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash has partially satisfied the claim of Armenian MPs against Haykakan Zhamanak daily.
Obviously, the authorities are doing their utmost to suppress freedom of speech in the country. In fact, this is a verdict taken against each Armenian newspaper. We call on all media, public and political organizations, human rights activists and ordinary citizens, regardless of their political beliefs, to speak out in defense of Haykakan Zhamanak and freedom of speech in Armenia, reads the statement.
On February 7, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash ordered "Haykakan Zhamanak" to pay three government-connected businessmen 6 million drams in damages and retract its allegations that they engaged in criminal activity in Russia.
MPs Samvel Alexanian, Ruben Hayrapetian and Levon Sargsian sued "Haykakan Zhamanak" last month after it refused to run a retraction of what they say are false claims amounting to defamation of character. In a joint lawsuit, each of them demanded 2.5 million drams in moral damages.
