Pro-Russian politician to apologize to ex-political prisoner

A court from Chisinau ruled that the municipal councilor Valery Climenco denies his statements in the Municipal Council (CMC) that the judge found as slanderous, damaging the honor and dignity of former political detainee Andrei Ivantoc, an honorary citizen of Chisinau. General mayor Dorin Chirtoaca put the issue on the agenda of today's session of the CMC, Info-Prim Neo reports. The court also obliges Climenco to address public apologies to Ivantoc, ensuring that the footage is broadcast by TV 7 station. In the CMC's sitting of Oct. 11, 2007, Climenco made a number of harsh statements addressed to the former political detainees known as the Ilascu group, as the Council was considering to confer the title of honorary citizen to Ilie Ilascu, Andrei Ivantoc, Alexandru Lesco and Tudor Popa. After the session, Andrei Ivantoc sued Valery, asking him to deny the information and damages for moral prejudice. Climenco will have to pay Ivantoc damages and court expenditures worth over 15,000 lei. When this story has been aired, the councilors have not yet reached to debate the issue.