Quito, Ecuador (CNN) -- A judge in Ecuador ruled Wednesday that the directors and former opinion editor of El Universo newspaper must each serve three years in prison for an opinion article about President Rafael Correa, state media reported. The judge also ruled that the accused must pay $30 million, and the newspaper must pay $10 million, to Correa, the state-run El Ciudadano government information website reported. The case drew international attention from press-freedom advocates, who say Correa aims to crack down on critics by restricting the media. Correa filed a libel lawsuit after El Universo published a column in February by the newspaper's then-opinion editor, titled, "No to lies."
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NEW: The column's author says Correa misunderstood his meaning
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El Universo says the judge's ruling violates free speech rights
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"We have defended the right to honor," Correa's attorney says
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A judge rules that $40 million must be paid to Correa
In a statement posted on its website, @placeholder decried the ruling as "a violation against the universal principle of freedom of expression" and vowed to appeal.