Moscow court throws out ex-mayor Luzhkov’s libel claim

A Moscow court on Wednesday rejected ex-mayor Yury Luzhkov’s libel suit against the Life News group.

Luzhkov had argued that a Life News story published after his dismissal as mayor and which alleged he had extorted $750 million from a city-controlled bank was libelous.

Judge Tatyana Adamova ruled that the story did not cause Luzhkov moral damage, since it did not contain any allegations of his involvement in unlawful actions.

Luzhkov’s representative said the court’s position was untenable and his client would appeal.

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