Businessman Loses Case against Hrodna TV

On 28 February judge of Hrodna Leninski Borough Court Natallia Sobaleva rejected the suit of the businessman Mikalai Autukhovich against Hrodna TV, journalist Volha Maksimchyk and the tax inspection of Hrodna region.

Mr. Autukhovich states that the TV channel insulted his honor and dignity in the TV program that was thrice broadcast on 28 and 29 September 2004. For instance, he has pretensions to the author of the program, journalist Volha Maksimchyk who put to doubt that Autukhovich gave charitable aid to a children’s community and stated that he evaded from paying the taxes that were spent on “real” support to children.

At first the suit concerned only Hrodna TV, but the judge decided to draw to the trial also the author of the program Volha Maksimchyk and the tax inspection of Hrodna region because the journalist stated she had obtained the materials for the program from this institution. Mikalai Autukhovich demanded 40 million Belarusian rubles for the compensation of the moral harm from all three defendants.

Monitoring service of Belarusian Association of Journalists