Former Mayor Yury Luzhkov won a defamation lawsuit against tabloids Tvoi Den and Lifenews.ru, as well as Ekho Moskvy radio, on Tuesday but was only awarded 30,000 rubles ($977) in damages, RIA-Novosti reported.
Luzhkov had sought a combined 10 million rubles ($325,000) but was awarded the 30,000 rubles, with each of the three media outlets to pay a third of the sum.
The media will also have to retract reports accusing Luzhkov of allotting more city funds for his beekeeping enterprises than for helping Moscow’s disabled, the report said, without elaborating.
A Luzhkov representative said Tuesday that Ekho Moskvy did not plan to appeal. Spokespeople for the other publications refused to comment.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.