SLAPP, or a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, is a concept used in international legal practice. It refers to situations in which legal proceedings may be used not only to protect rights but also to restrict criticism, public debate, journalistic activity, or civic initiatives.
In SLAPP cases, what matters is not only the claim brought before the court but also the purpose for which the legal proceedings are being used. Such cases may often appear, on the surface, to be ordinary lawsuits concerning the protection of honour, dignity, or business reputation, yet they have distinctive characteristics.
What is a SLAPP, and to what extent is this issue relevant in Armenia? These questions were addressed as part of Iravaban.net’s “Legal Week” by Armen Melkumyan, managing partner and attorney at Fidelity Consulting Law Firm, and Marianna Avagyan, a lawyer at the Armenian Lawyers’ Association NGO.