BPF Party Appeals against Turn Down of Its Suit against Belarusian TV

21.07.2004.

We should remind that on 8 July 2004 Judge of Minsk Pershamayski Borough Court N. Petukh considered the suit of the Soym of Belarusian People’s Front against the National State TV and Radio Company and Yury Prakopaw on protection of business reputation and refused to initiate a civil case, stating that it wasn’t in the court competence.

In its suit the Soym of the BPF Party asked to find the information that was distributed on 25 April 2004 in the broadcast “V Tsentre Vnimaniya” (“In Focus of Attention”) false and harmful for the business reputation of the BPF Party.

On 25 April in the program there was broadcast the informational material “Chyornaya Byl”, prepared by the journalist of Belarusian State TV and Radio Company Yury Prakopaw. It contained information that was false and grossly insult the business reputation of the BPF Party: “Even now the head of the BPF Party Vintsuk Viachorka states that when the opposition comes to power, support to Chernobyl regions will be stopped, which means that people will be turned adrift.” The Soym of the BPF Party considered this information insulting. The party is of the opinion that this information is evidently false and is aimed at deception of Belarusian citizens, it spoils the reputation of the party on the eve of the election to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly.

However, Minsk Pershamayski Court decided that this controversy can’t be a subject of court consideration and belongs to the field of political discussion that influences the forming of political views of citizens.

The complaint that was filed to Minsk College Board on Civil Cases demands to set aside the decision of Minsk Pershamayski Borough Court of 8 July 2004 about the refusal to initiate a case and return the case for reconsideration.