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The Lori Region Court of Common Jurisdiction presided over by Judge Borik Grigoryan, rejected the lawsuit of Lernapat Mayor, Vano Yeghiazaryan, against the human rights’ defender, Artur Sakunts. The Lernapat Mayor accused Artur Sakunts of defaming his honor, dignity and business reputation.

Vano Yeghiazaryan mentioned in his lawsuit that on December 8, 2010, Artur Sakunts gave an interview to the”Vanadzoryan Khchankar“Newspaper saying that phone calls relating  to “corruption“crimes are not examined adequately. Vivid examples  of calls are concerning the number of activities initiated by the Lernapat Mayor relating to”wasting local budget allocations andhis decision to free himself and his family from paying property taxes“, expressions which, according to the Mayor, caused damage to his honor, dignity, and business reputation.

, The Court notes in the section of legal analyses that the interview given to the”Vanadzoryan Khchankar“Newspaper testifies that the responder, was expressing his opinion, and as a source of information for corruption crimes, received calls from the villagers relating to wasting local budget allocations and the mayor’s decision to free his family from property taxes.

Evaluating . Sakunts’ public statement, which had been published in the newspaper, the Court finds that Sakunts, evaluated the attitude of law enforcement bodies towards crime corruptions which are negative in general.   In particular, as an example he was referring to a number of complaints from villagers and Sakunts, qualified the accusations by using the word  ”activities“ and noted at the same time that a criminal case is initiated and a preliminary investigation is conducted, that is, the calls are still subject to being proved“, and this is mentioned in the verdict.

The Court took into account the fact that the claimant, occupying the elective position of Lernapat Mayor and being a public official, must be more tolerant towards opinions and publications relating  to him.

Edmon Marukyan, Artur Sakunts’ lawyer, mentioned in a conversation to”Aravot”» that if the court satisfies this lawsuit, it could have a very negative consequence  by silencing human rights defenders.

”The possibility of implementing supervision by means of criticizing public officials would be limiting. It would become a precedent for silencing people»,-stated Marukyan.

Source՝ http://www.aravot.am