Veteran lawyer Masi Nayyem to defend MP Zheleznyak in a defamation suit filed by Midas figure

"It is always more than just a legal dispute" in these cases, Nayyem wrote on his Facebook page.

"It is rather a balance between freedom of speech and the right to reputation."

The lawyer noted that he has not yet received the lawsuit materials and does not know what exactly is being contested, what demands have been made, or what they are based on.

"Therefore, no assessments on the merits. Because a position must start with facts, not assumptions," he remarked.

Nayyem emphasized that he is leading the team in this case, working alongside senior dispute resolution lawyer Aliona Bodnar and junior dispute resolution lawyer Kateryna Kuzhel.

"We will get the lawsuit — we will figure it out. And then there will be a substantive conversation," the lawyer added.

His defense will be represented by the Miller law firm, Zheleznyak confirmed.

"So we look forward to meeting Mindich in court. Especially since an extradition request to Israel was supposed to arrive yesterday," MP added.

Tymur Mindich, the main suspect in the Midas corruption case at Energoatom, filed a lawsuit against him demanding the protection of honor, dignity, and business reputation, Zheleznyak said on March 9.

Mindich's interests are represented by lawyer Vladyslav Tepliuk. The plaintiff demands to refute information spread on his own information resources, specifically on his YouTube and Telegram channels, the lawyer said.

The subject of the lawsuit was precisely Zheleznyak's public statements, Tepliuk clarified. The MP systematically spread these statements on his platforms, "although he had neither the right nor the authority to do so," according to him. Mindich set a symbolic amount for moral compensation — 200 UAH, the lawyer also noted.

The case will be heard by the Pechersk Court, and the judge will be Serhii Vovk, whom journalists have repeatedly called scandalous.