Ukrainian newspaper site removes UK block

Ukrainian newspaper the Kyiv Post has lifted a block on UK traffic to its website following the publication of a new draft defamation bill for England and Wales.

The newspaper site put the block in place on 14 December in protest against what it called the UK's "draconian libel laws", following the filing of a libel suit against the title's publisher Public Media, by a Ukrainian businessman, in the UK.

The case was thrown out of the high court in February when a judge ruled that the London court was "not the best place" for the libel dispute to be heard as it had "no substantial connection to this jurisdiction". Chief editor Brian Bonner told Journalism.co.uk at the time that the block would not be taken down while the Post waited to see if the ruling would be appealed by the claimant.

But this week the site was re-opened to UK traffic, following the publication of a draft defamation bill for England and Wales earlier this month which takes a tougher stance on 'libel tourism', the practice of foreign claimants bringing cases in the UK to take advantage of English libel laws.

The new draft bill states that a court does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine a claim "unless it is satisfied that, of all the places in which the statement complained of has been published, England and Wales is clearly the most appropriate jurisdiction in which to bring an action".

In a statement, the Kyiv Post said the story at the centre of the libel action against the Post will continue to be unavailable to internet addresses originating in the United Kingdom, on the advice of its 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."

"The Kyiv Post deeply regrets the inconvenience the block has caused our readers in the United Kingdom and greatly appreciates their patience," the paper added.

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