The Kyiv Post, effective today, is ending its block on access to the newspaper's website from readers in the United Kingdom.
The block was imposed on Dec. 14 after a libel lawsuit filed against the Kyiv Post. On Feb. 24, a London judge in the Royal Courts of Justice dismissed the lawsuit brought by Ukrainian billionaire Dmytro Firtash and the appeals period has now lapsed. The URL (uniform resource locator) to the story in question, ”Gas trade leaves trail of lawsuits, corruption,” will continue to be unavailable to Internet addresses originating in the United Kingdom, on the advice of Kyiv Post lawyers.
The Kyiv Post instituted the block in protest of England’s draconian libel laws which restrict legitimate free speech in numerous ways, including placing the burden of proof on defendants rather than plaintiffs.
However, the British government is moving to reform the libel law to give stronger protections to free speech and to end "libel tourism," the practice of foreigners exploiting England’s weak libel protections to file frivolous lawsuits against news organizations, scientists, academics and others who work outside of England. More information can be found at www.libelreform.org.
The Kyiv Post deeply regrets the inconvenience the block has caused our readers in the United Kingdom and greatly appreciates their patience.
Читайте об этом на www.kyivpost.ua.
