MOSCOW, September 16 - RAPSI, Alyona Yegorova. The Russian Defense Ministry appealed the denial of its $4.5 million suit against Military Insurance Company (VSK), the court told RAPSI.

The ministry sued over the insurance company's refusal to pay insurance benefits to newly retired officers in 2009, it told the court.

The Moscow Commercial Court held against the ministry's suit on March 22 and an appeals court upheld the decision.

Founded in 1992, VSK Insurance House is a major Russian insurance company. It offers over 100 types of insurance services, and operates over 840 divisions and offices across Russia.