DUSHANBE, September 28, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The Dushanbe independent weekly, Farazh , faces the defamation charge.

The Farazh editor-in-chief Khurshed Atovullo says resident of Roudaki district, Fayziddin Azizov, has filed the defamation lawsuit in the court in Roudaki district against Farazh, asking for 500,000 somoni (equivalent to some 103,000 U.S. dollars) as compensation for moral damage caused by article published by the weekly.

“Fayziddin Azizov claims that the article by Zevar Sharipova entitled “Horror in the Roudaki Court: Mercedes – 22,000 U.S. Dollars” (Dahshat dar Sudi Roudaki: Mercedes – 22,000 Dollars) printed on August 17, 2011 allegedly defames his honor and reputation,” the editor told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the trial will affect normal activity of the newspaper.