MOSCOW, May 10 - RAPSI, Ksenia Karpova. The Tverskoy District Court in Moscow postponed on Thursday until May 31 its hearing of journalist Maria Babalova's lawsuit against the Bolshoi Theater to recover $67,000 in moral damages.

The music critic and Moscow newspaper columnist claimed that she went to the theater for an October 2 performance as an audience member and not a journalist.

The lawsuit states that it was announced before the performance that the show was closed to the press and would not start until Babalova left. However, she refused.

"Eventually, security guards removed me from the theater by force and injured me, leaving bruises and scratches, and also damaged my business reputation," reads the statement of claim.

Babalova seeks from the theater 2 million rubles ($67,000) and an apology on its website.

The Russian Legal Information Agency has yet to reach the theater for comment.