Albania judge’s suit highlights defamation law abuse Controversial jurist seeks €83k in ‘moral damages’ from media outlets, journalists
Members of an IPI/SEEMO delegation (left-hand side, from L: IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic, former IPI Executive Board Member George Brock, and IPI German National Committee Chair Christian Zarm) meet with Slovenian Justice Minister Goran Klemenčič (first from right) in Nov. 2014 to discuss changes to Slovenia’s official secrets and defamation legislation. Photo: IPI.
A controversial Albanian judge’s efforts to inflict punishing fines for “moral damages” on media outlets and journalists that reported on his wealth and his status as a target in a corruption investigation underscore the challenge defamation law abuse poses to media freedom in Europe.
Albanian media NGO BIRN and newspaper Shqiptarja, and two journalists from each outlet, respectively, face a combined demand for €83,000 in two cases by Gjin Gjoni, a member of Albania’s High Council of Justice and a judge on the country’s Court of Appeal.
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