Court does not meet Zhirinovsky's libel suit against journalist

"The court refused to meet Zhirinovsky's action against Karaulov today," Pazukhina said.

The lawmaker demanded that the journalist be fined 5 million roubles for the film titled Skunk, which TV Tsentr Channel ran on June 19, 2010. Karaulov stated in the film that Zhirinovsky had evaded paying taxes.

The plaintiff accused the journalist of defamation, as Karaulov's statement makes him a law-breaker.

Zhirinovsky also stated that the film was a cause for moral pain as "his name, honor, dignity and business reputation had been defamed. "For a manager of my level, it is the crucial condition for successful activity," he said.

But the court found no substantiation of the plaintiff's arguments and refused to recognize the Skunk as defaming Zhirinovsky's honor and dignity. Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version