Rinat Akhmetov awarded substantial damages over malicious report
9 June 2008
Links to previous press releases
Rinat Akhmetov secures apology - 3 Mar 08
Rinat Akhmetov secures favourable judgment - 11 Jan 08
Ukrainian businessman files libel suit in London - 4 Apr 07
Download PDF of apology from Kyiv Post - 21 Feb 08
The High Court of Justice in London last week awarded £50,000 ($100,000) in damages and costs in favour of Rinat Akhmetov, the noted Ukrainian investor and political leader, against the internet publication OBOZREVATEL in a libel action that was filed on June 26, 2007. The case arose out of a series of articles published in 2007 by OBOZREVATEL, which included numerous false allegations regarding Mr. Akhmetov. Today’s damages award in the High Court was also entered against two OBOZREVATEL editors – Oleg Medvedev and Yaroslav Bilik – as well as Tatyana Chornovol, the journalist responsible for the false articles.
Laura Tyler of Schillings, acting for Mr Akhmetov stated that, “We believe that this case should send a message that those who publish seriously defamatory material on the internet, which they cannot justify, will be held accountable for their conduct.” Speaking from Washington, D.C., Mr. Akhmetov’s U.S. Attorney Mark MacDougall said, “The important message of today’s ruling is that publishing false and malicious reports have a substantial cost.”
Mr. Akhmetov has previously stated that he will donate any money damages from this case to a charity in Ukraine.
Rinat Akhmetov is the principal shareholder of System Capital Management, one of the largest industrial firms in Ukraine, and is a deputy of the Ukrainian national parliament, the Verkhovna Rada
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