Atroshchanka against "Narodnaya Vola": A Never Ending Story? :: Charter'97 :: News

On September 29 the Leninski District Court of Minsk finished examining another claim, submitted by an entrepreneur Siarhiej Atroshchanka against the "Narodnaya Vola" newspaper publisher. The judge Valiancina Bortnik satisfied the claim in full and resolved to charge 776 thousand rubles (approx. 360 USD) from the publisher to cover the additional sue costs. Most of this sum is Mr. Atroshchanka attorney`s service fee for taking part in the legal investigation of the appeal against the resolution of the Leninski District Court of Minsk, regarding the article "What Business Lives Well in Belarus?", published in "Narodnaya Vola".

Deputy Chairman of "The Belarusan Association of Journalists" Andrei Bastuniec represented the interests of the "Narodnaya Vola" publisher in the court. He is sure such court practice is not based on the norms of the Civil Judicial Procedure Code (CJPC) of the Republic of Belarus. In the lawyer`s opinion, according to the CJPC, the attorney`s service fee reimbursement is possible only either in the court of original jurisdiction or after the Court of Appeal takes a new resolution. "The exercised judicial practice hampers the right on appealing against a court verdict. Also, it winds up a spiral of legal processes and charges", - considers A. Bastuniec.

On October 5, there will be investigated a similar claim at the Leninski District Court of Minsk. This time the claim is submitted by "The Alliance-Media" Ltd. Siarhiej Atroshchanka is one of the organization founders. "The Alliance-Media" Ltd. demands to oblige the "Narodnaya Vola" publisher to cover the sue costs on the case, connected with the article publishing "How Siarhiej Atroshchanka`s "Observer" Treated Leanid Lievin in a Bandit Way".