Court throws out lawsuit against Belarus state TV

Minsk's Pershamayski District Court on February 12 rejected a lawsuit filed by Georgi Dzmitruk, a co-chairman of the committee to organize the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) party against the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company. The ruling was read by Judge Volha Bagamya.

Belapan news agency reports that on December 13, 2009 the state TV channel showed footage alleging that "three sex workers Olga, Lena and Olga" accused Dzmitruk of not having paid for their "services" on the internet.

Dzmitruk filed a lawsuit demanding to refute the information in the footage and to compensate his moral damages in the amount of Br128 million.

The court rejected the lawsuit on the grounds that the wolds "Olga, Lena and Olga" in the report by journalist Prokopov had been numerously published in the internet. In the view of the court, Prokopov's personal view does not degrade the honor and dignity of Dzmitruk.