MEO Expert Judgment of October 31, 2008 on the article of “Aravot” daily disputed in court
Background of the Issue: Ruzan Minasian, correspondent of “Aravot” daily, applied to MEO to receive an expert judgment on the article which became subject of the lawsuit of Arthur Ghevondian, RA police officer, versus “Aravot” daily. The plaintiff demanded to induce the newspaper to publish a refutation of the information in the article “If Your Neighbor is a Policeman” (“Aravot”, June 25, 2008) by Ruzan Minasian, which discredited his honor and reputation.
Ruzan Minasian presented MEO expert judgment at the court session of November 14. Artur Ghevondian announced that if “Aravot” published the assessment, he would revoke the lawsuit. On November 15, the daily published the text of the judgment. On November 18 the court secured the petition of Artur Ghevondian about revoking the suit. On November 26 the decision of Civil Court of Yerevan was announced to revoke the suit of Arthur Ghevondian versus “Aravot” daily and to terminate the court proceedings.
Thus, a precedent had appeared in Armenia. For the first time, upon the request of a party, the self-regulation body made an assessment on the litigation subject, and the opponent party, being satisfied with the content and publicizing of the document, revoked the suit.