Kazak newspaper may be forced shut by libel judgment in favour of state-owned bank
Posted by Lisette García on November 30, 2009 at 7:57 AM
In yet another potential example of economic censorship, The Respublika newspaper may be forced shut by a whopping libel judgment against it brought by an arm of its country's government, The Institute for War & Peace Reporting said Friday.
An Almaty court in September ordered Respublika - published in Kazak and Russian - to pay 60M tenge (US$400,000) in "moral damages" to the BTA Bank, nationalized in February, for comments relating to the possible loss of $45 million in deposits, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
An Almaty court in September ordered Respublika - published in Kazak and Russian - to pay 60M tenge (US$400,000) in "moral damages" to the BTA Bank, nationalized in February, for comments relating to the possible loss of $45 million in deposits, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
An appeal is still pending, but the newspaper is not able to pay the fine and will cease publishing if the decision is upheld.
A similar practice in the United States of quieting unfavorable press through lawsuits has acquired the moniker Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP. The trend is blooming "like tulips in spring," The Fine Art Registry reported in March.
A similar practice in the United States of quieting unfavorable press through lawsuits has acquired the moniker Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP. The trend is blooming "like tulips in spring," The Fine Art Registry reported in March.
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