ITN Director Slavi Trifonov Loses BGN 100,000 Case Against MP Radostin Vassilev: Details Revealed

The presenter and director of ITN Slavi Trifonov loses a case for BGN 100,000 against the independent MP Radostin Vassilev, “Sega” saw in the electronic records of the Sofia City Court. Vassilev’s political career began in ITN, where he was also the Minister of Sports. Then he left the party and joined the PP-DB, with which he entered the parliament with the list. In the end, however, Vassilev left the PP-DB with a bang, delivering the infamous recording of the PP party meeting.

Trifonov sued him due to his statements from June 2022, which were made during the breakup of ITN, while Vassilev was a retired minister. It is understood from the decision of the judge Ivaylo Dimitrov that the claim of the party leader was to some extent – for BGN 50,000 Trifonov claims non-monetary damages with allegations that there are insults and defamatory statements in Vassilev’s statements.

In his application, Trifonov names 18 accusations made by Vassilev. For example, it removes trust from him. “The time came when the mafia broke into ITN,” said Vassilev. And more: “…the behavior of Mr. Trifonov, as the sole owner of this party over the past year, has led to the self-destruction of this party, and his recent actions mean that the state has disappear too…” . Vassilev also says that Trifonov lied and that he threw “to the mafia without batting an eye … the background broke through to us … “.

Vassilev is quoted as saying that Trifonov does not have enough morals to be the head of ITN, that he was never interested in the opinion of the voters, or in his representatives, that he did not know that ITN was a business project, etc.

Losing the case, Trifonov was sentenced to pay Vassilev BGN 3,500 for a lawyer. The municipal court’s decision is not final and may be challenged on appeal.

In his lawsuit, Trifonov complains that Vassilev creates a negative view of him in the audience and opponents. According to him, the statements undermine his authority and suggest that he belonged to a criminal group. This affected his image, hindered his efforts to make responsible decisions, and the voters and supporters of the party were confused by the crimes attributed to him . Trifonov claims that with this behavior Vassilev caused him severe mental and physical pain, affecting his honor and good name in society.

Vassilev’s line of defense is that some of his statements refer to ITN and not Trifonov. And furthermore, it is about his opinion and assessment of current political events, demonstrating his right to freedom of speech.

The judge says in his act that Trifonov and Vassilev are “prominent political figures”, and Vassilev’s statements were about the political processes that were developing in the state at the time. It recalls the case law of the Supreme Court, as well as the understanding of the Strasbourg Court, that politicians have voluntarily accepted a public role that requires them to criticize the behavior and actions of other political subjects and state agencies, thus controlling them in the interests of the community. This means that they are somewhat more stable, aggressive and uncompromising. At the same time, they then consciously and inevitably expose themselves to the close scrutiny and criticism of their political opponents, journalists and society as a whole, who demand that to show themselves a higher degree of tolerance, to be ready to be the object. of evaluation and criticism to a higher degree than “normal” people.

“The right to free expression and dissemination of information can include discussion of the actions of public figures, critical evaluations and even go beyond positive tone. This is for public scrutiny and political debate. “Politicians and public figures should suffer more hate, but freedom of speech and expression cannot be used to insult and/or hate,” wrote Judge Dimitrov. He accepts that Vassilev’s statements are not insulting or hateful. , but political rhetoric, evaluation judgments, with which he encouraged his resignation as Minister of Sports.

Regarding the words “the mafia broke into ITN”, the court finds that they are not directly aimed at Trifonov’s personality and cannot harm him personally. Besides, it was said truthfully.

“Although the mentioned phrases mostly have a negative meaning and even if some of them are harsh and true, they are not used intentionally to harm the rights and good name of Trifonov, and they are are an acceptable tool in political rhetoric when criticizing behavior. another politician,” the court ruled.

BGN BGN BGN BGN This is not an auction. These are the amounts that Bulgarian politicians are currently suing. There are more than BGN 1.1 million “circulating” in these cases And the election campaign has just started, from which there could be more crime and criticism.

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