‘ARMENIAN’ SUES RAILA FOR DEFAMATION
By Judy Ogutu

Standard, Kenya
March 30 2006

Mr Artur Margaryan, an alleged Armenian who has been in the headlines
recently, has sued Langata MP Raila Odinga for alleged defamation.

Artur claims that Raila had defamed him at Press conferences, which
were extensively covered by the media on or about March 3, 8 and 10.

Through his lawyers, Artur claims that the former Roads minister had
published or caused the publication of malicious words to help him
escape from a legal liability to pay a debt he owes him.

At the time the alleged malicious allegations were published, they
said, their client had advanced Raila a loan that was repayable and
was due.

According to Artur, the alleged words were understood to mean he was
a mercenary, drug-dealer, a criminal, unscrupulous and a dishonest
businessman.

The words, the suit papers say, were also calculated to mean he was
a heartless person who would kill for money.

Artur says this was done to engineer his deportation by destroying
his credibility. He claims to have met Raila several times in Dubai
and Kenya.

The applicant, who is represented by Ndonye, Mbugua, Atudo and
Macharia Company Advocates, also sought an order restraining Raila
from publishing, writing or causing to be written defamatory matters
about him.

He also wants the court to award him general damages and the costs of
the suit, and to compel Raila to apologise in local and international
media “in a manner that is sufficiently prominent and commensurate
to the publication of words complained of in the suit.”

His lawyers said Artur was a businessman and director in various
companies “with concerns in more than five countries including Kenya.”

Artur, they said, had interests in real estate, construction, gemstones
and precious minerals and import and export businesses among others.