The Moscow Zamoskvoretsky Court has opened the trial between singer Philip Kirkorov and pop artist Lyubov Uspenskaya. The information was shared with socialbites.ca by Kirkorov’s attorney, Alexander Dobrovinsky.
On March 11, 2024, the civil proceedings commenced with what was described as a formal court session in Moscow. According to Dobrovinsky, the interests of Philip Kirkorov in this dispute have been entrusted to his legal representative for years across various courts. The attorney’s comments came as he confirmed that Kirkorov would be represented by the same lawyer in ongoing and future proceedings related to the case.
Dobrovinsky also noted the question facing the hearing about whether Lyubov Uspenskaya, who holds US citizenship, would attend the session in person or delegate her appearance to a power of attorney holder. Such procedural questions are common in high-profile defamation cases where the defendant’s presence can influence the course of testimony and evidence presentation.
The claim filed by Kirkorov seeks non-pecuniary damages amounting to ten million rubles from Uspenskaya. Additionally, it requests the reimbursement of legal costs following an interview the singer gave to blogger Alena Zhigalova, in which Uspenskaya was labeled a misogynist. The lawsuit also names Zen.Platform and the social network VKontakte, where the interview appeared, as related parties in the dispute.
Dobrovinsky indicated that the claim was submitted on December 13. He further clarified that the dispute had not been resolved through any pre-trial settlement discussions, nor did it carry an indication of a potential settlement agreement between the artists at this stage.
There had been prior visibility into the identity of Banksy, a matter brought to light in connection with a separate dispute involving two collectors. The reference underscores the ongoing pattern of high-profile legal tensions in cases touching on public figures and digital media dissemination, where allegations and counterclaims can rapidly escalate into broader reputational battles.
Sources familiar with the proceedings have emphasized that the case hinges on the interpretation of statements and their potential impact on the reputations of the involved artists, as well as the corresponding financial implications. The court’s handling of evidence, testimony, and any subsequent rulings will be closely watched by observers of Russian pop culture and media law, given the public nature of the parties and the platforms implicated in spreading the interview in question. [Source: socialbites.ca]