Brest Courier wins legal battle over moral damages
The independent newspaper Brest Courier won the legal case after a district court in Brest rejected a lawsuit filed by the local resident, Leonid Volobuyev. The man filed a legal action seeking to defend his honor and business reputation, after the newspaper published a satirical poem titled "The Song about Volobuyev". He complained that the poem was about him and was degrading his honor.
Volobuyev wanted the newspaper to make a denouncement of the poem and pay Br2 million in damages. Later, he raised his claim to the amount of Br10 million. He was also seeking to close down the newspaper, by abolishing the certificate of registration.
The newspaper said that the poem first appeared in the Internet on one of the Russian sites, from which it was later reprinted. The journalists also told court that Volobuyev was not a rare name in the Brest region. There are at least 23 people, bearing the same last name, according to Radio Svaboda.
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Volobuyev wanted the newspaper to make a denouncement of the poem and pay Br2 million in damages. Later, he raised his claim to the amount of Br10 million. He was also seeking to close down the newspaper, by abolishing the certificate of registration.
The newspaper said that the poem first appeared in the Internet on one of the Russian sites, from which it was later reprinted. The journalists also told court that Volobuyev was not a rare name in the Brest region. There are at least 23 people, bearing the same last name, according to Radio Svaboda.
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