MOSCOW, August 23 - RAPSI, Dmitry Shchitov. The Supreme Commercial Court has dismissed without review an appeal filed by Planeta, a tour company, against an adverse lower court judgment in its defamation suit against the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI).

Planeta had sought 300 million rubles ($10.2 million) in compensation, as well as a court order for VGTRK to refute information it aired about involvement of the tour company and its director Vitaly Anserov in child sex tourism and abuse.

Planeta failed to file an appeal with the Supreme Commercial Court within three months following the last judicial act related to the cases entry into force, as was required, the court stated.

The Moscow Commercial Court decided that the television companys broadcasted report contained no information that could be qualified as false, since the allegations in the report could only be considered statements of opinion, and not fact.

According to the court, neither the Civil Code nor mass media law prohibit mass media from publishing critical opinions of individuals or companies.

RAPSI News Service