MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI) - A false report regarding Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin's alleged resignation may lead to a lawsuit, Yakunin's lawyer Alexei Melnikov told RAPSI on Thursday.

Reports that Yakunin had been dismissed were distributed on Wednesday night by an unknown source on behalf of the government press service, and announced by all major news agencies and other media, including TV channels. 

RIA Novosti's IT Service found that the message was disguised as a government press release, containing common elements of such newsletters, and was sent from a non-government IP address. The copy was prepared and the source was falsified so thoroughly that professional hackers were likely responsible for the forgery.

"I wouldn't rule out that Vladimir Yakunin will go to court regarding this forgery," Melnikov said.

Yakunin said he will learn the names of the individuals who were behind the report. 

He believes that cybercrimes of such kind deserve more serious punishment.

Meanwhile, Natalya Timakova, the prime minister's press secretary, told media that "the Federal Protective Service and the Federal Security Service are now involved in the inquiry to uncover the source of the information."