Costly Claims: Libel and slander charges against media most often settled out of court

The numerous civil claims against mass media for insult and slander that sprang up last year were settle out of court, according to attorneys who say both sides preferred settlements to drawn-out trials.

At a press conference on Tuesday attorney Davit Tumasyan stated that the abundance of the claims caused Armenia's Ombudsman to challenge the law at the Constitutional Court. Editors of some Armenian newspapers have also made a statement, urging to review the decriminalization of the law, because they result in the newspapers' bankruptcy. However, the Constitutional Court considered the law to be corresponding to the Constitution of Armenia.

In 2011, 12 civil claims under Law on "Defamation and Insult" were lodged against four newspapers.  Read more... (319 words)

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