A Moscow court has ordered prominent opposition activist Alexei Navalny to pay a United Russia State Duma deputy 30,000 rubles ($896) for comments he made about party members in the Russian version of Esquire magazine.
Court spokesperson Maria Balakshina said United Russia deputy Vladimir Svirid's request to force Navalny to denounce his previous statement and give monetary compensation for moral harm had been partially fulfilled with the court order Monday, Rapsi reported.
Svirid had originally sought 1 million rubles in the defamation case.
The case was filed over disparaging comments made by Navalny about members of United Russia in a December article published in Esquire magazine.
"In United Russia, there are people I come across that I generally like. But if you have joined United Russia, you are still a thief. And if you are not a thief, then you are a crook, because you use your name to cover the rest of the thieves and crooks," Navalny wrote.
Navalny's lawyer Vadim Kobzev said Navalny would appeal the decision, arguing that if he didn't, more United Russia members could be motivated to file similar complaints.
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.
