EuRoPol Gaz takes Telecoms Ministry to court, charging Minister with libel

Owner of the Polish part of the Yamal gas pipeline EuRoPol Gaz (ERPG) is suing the Telecoms Ministry, and in particular its head Tomasz Szyszko. ERPG accuses the ministry of libel, charging Szyszko with circulating false information about the company's activities and abusing his power as the ministry’s head. According to Lech Falandysz, an attorney representing ERPG, Szyszko falsely accused ERPG of acting against the law. Meanwhile, Szyszko on Friday rejected a request by PolGaz Telekom (PGT), a company strongly connected with ERPG, to provide international data transmission services. PGT is interested in becoming the operator of the Yamal fiber optic cable. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Jan. 27-28, p.26; Rzeczpospolita, Jan. 27-28, pp.A1,B1) P.J.