Armenia: deputy Arzakantsyan gives money collected from opposition newspaper to charity

Tigran Arzakantsyan, the representative of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, who won the lawsuit against the newspaper "Erkir" (Country) on the case of honour and dignity defence, intends to transfer the amount of 500 US dollars collected from the newspaper for charity. On June 21 he announced it to journalists.

The court ordered the newspaper to pay an amount of about 500 US dollars for compensation of moral damage. According to the verdict, the newspaper is to pay 200 thousand drams to the deputy for insulting, in particular, for using the word "brat", 80 thousand drams or about 200 US dollars for legal services, and 8000 drams or about 20 US dollars for court costs.

The deputy intends to lodge an appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the Court of First Instance, because the court of general jurisdiction sustained his claim only in part.

"I'm not a man, who can swallow a personal insult. The journalists have no right to interfere in my private life," said Tigran Arzakantsyan.

Bagrat Yesayan, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Erkir" (Country) said that the media exist to write the truth.