Background
Isaak Grinberg wrote an article for the Guberniya newspaper. It accused the Governor of the Ulyanovsk Region of “waging war” against the free press, and referred to the governor’s support for a colonel who had killed an 18-year-old girl. It concluded with the words, “no shame and no scruples!”
The governor sued Mr Grinberg for defamation, solely on the basis of the final words of the article, “no shame and no scruples!” He claimed that these words were insulting and could not be proved.
The governor won the case. Mr Grinberg was ordered to pay a fine.