Alternate health minister ordered to pay fine in defamation lawsuit

An Athens court has ordered Greece's Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis to pay financial damages to the family of a journalist for defamation of character.

Polakis alleged that the late Vassilis Beskenis, who was a political journalist and commentator at Skai TV, had been being appointed to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (KEELPNO) following a stint at the health ministry press office during the tenure of Adonis Georgiadis, now New Democracy vice president.

Judges ruled that the "false allegations" made by Polakis had "damaged [Beskenis's] honor and reputation."

The journalist passed away following a heart attack in December 2017 at the age of 43.