JSC "Etalon" had to pay 10 000 rubles for preview trailer with a dance on Jesus Christ's face

PanARMENIAN.Net - Vasileostrovski Court of Saint Petersburg in an open session examined Artak Aleksanyan's suit against JSC "National Broadcasting Network, "Etalon", "Rambler Broadcasting Corporation" TV Radio Company. A. Aleksanyan demanded to compensate the moral damage, which was caused to him by a preview trailer shown on NVM channel's "Voyage" program from 2005 till the beginning of 2006. The preview trailer, which tells about trips to Turkey, shows people in dervish dresses dance on cruciform nimbus of Jesus Christ. A. Aleksanyan indicated that he is a believer, and the above mentioned trailer insults his religious feelings, causes moral sufferings and is capable of resulting in religious animosity.



Russia based "Yerkramas" Armenian newspaper reports that during the court process an expertise was drawn up. The document confirms that the video fragment, where dervishes dance on the cruciform nimbus of Jesus Christ, debases Christians. According to Saints Petersburg Diocesan Board of Moscow Patriarchate, the frames, which show people in dervish dresses dance on Jesus Christ icon, is a video-edition, i.e., deliberate combination of two different objects in frames. It is Jesus Christ's mosaic icon, which now is on the walls of St. Sofia Church in Istanbul. It is one of the most important elements in the faith of Orthodox believers. Consequently, improper and blasphemous treatment towards it may be viewed as insult to religious feelings.



The court ruled that the disputed preview trailer insulted plaintiff 's religious feelings, which caused him moral damage. However, according to the court there is no proof about inciting religious animosity in the case. Court thinks the preview trailer is unethical, and by act of Federal Law on Advertisement dated 18.07.1995, which was in force, when disputable legal relationships occurred, unethical advertisements are not allowed.



The court ruled that JSC "Etalon", which ordered the preview trailer, is responsible for causing the plaintiff moral damage. While determining the amount of compensation for moral damage, the court took into account the degree of guilt, degree of moral sufferings of the plaintiff, requirements of justice and rationality. Thus, according to the court's decision JSC "Etalon" must pay 10 000 rubles as compensation for moral damage to Artak Aleksanyan.