The Ismoili Somoni court has resumed the trial against Farazh newspaper.

The edition is accused of abuse of honor, dignity and business reputation. The appeal was filed by Faiziddin Azizov, resident of Rudaki region and head of one of Jamoats of the given region.

According to Farazh’s lawyer Gulchehra Holmatova, whose services were provided by the Human Rights Bureau in Tajikistan, the appeal was filed after publication of the “Horror in Rudaki regional court: Mercedes now costs $22.000” article (“Dakhshat dar sudi Rudaki: Mercedes – 22.000 dollar”) on August 17, 2011, in Farazh newspaper.

The newspaper published materials based on court documents when last year Mercedes vehicle driven by F.Azizov hit another vehicle and was damaged. Rudaki regional court has considered Azizov’s appeal and fined the other vehicle’s driver $22.000 USD. “In her article the reporter doubted the court’s decision claiming that the market price of Mercedes vehicle in Tajikistan do not exceed $5000-$6000 USD and, perhaps, the claimant disagreed this fact,” Farazh’s chief editor Hurshedi Atovullo has said.

Claimant believes that the newspaper and author of the article – reporter Zevar Sharipova – have abused his honor, dignity and caused damage to his business reputation and demanded 500.000 Somoni for moral damage.

Initially, Azizov filed his appeal to the regional court in his region and filed similar appeal to the court of Firdavsi region. “His appeal, however, was declined due to incorrect form and due to the fact that the claimant resides in Rudaki region,” Atovullo added.

Now the court of Somoni region decided to consider the appeal.

In autumn last year the claimant’s lawyer visited Farazh’s office and urged the edition to publish a disclaimer but was refused by the chief editor. “We are ready for the trial,” Atovullo said.