Independent newspaper Intex-press faces trial

Sources: www.charter97.org, www.baj.ru

The legal proceeding against the independent newspaper Intex-press started in the court of Baranavichy on 3 August. The director of the local shoe plant Viachaslau Tumaschyk sued the newspaper for an article Accused for good money published in the issue of 22 June 2006, which allegedly damage his honour and dignity.

The article, prepared with the held of the reports of the Internal Affairs Department of Baranavichy, and the information department of Internal Affairs Department of Brest executive committee, reported that the prosecutors office of Baranavichy had brought up an action against the director of Baranavichy shoes plant for abuse of power.

And Viachaslau Tumaschyk in his statement of claim said that he has no criminal charges pending against him, and demanded the newspaper to refute the report, and to pay 10 million rubles for moral damage.

The court heard the sides and decided to reschedule the hearings to 16 August. It had been noted that the reports in the newspaper was true. On the next session of the court policemen are to be summoned as co-defendants.