Cases

Fedchenko v Russia (No 2)

Facts

The Applicant, Fedchenko, was the founder and editor of the weekly newspaper Bryanskiye, which in 2005 published an article criticising the educational system in the Bryansk region, and in particular the head of the regional Department of Education, Mr Geraschenkov ('the Plaintiff'). The article stated that despite significant spending for education in the region, many boarding school pupils were social misfits and that the money was not spent for its designated purpose. The Plaintiff brought defamation proceedings against the Applicant (and the authors of the article) claiming that several passages were untrue and damaging to his reputation. At first instance the court granted the claims and ordered the Applicant to pay damages, costs and court fees, and to publish the operative part of the judgment in the newspaper. On appeal, the regional court quashed the order to pay the court fees but upheld the remainder of the judgment.

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