MOSCOW, August 2 - RAPSI. On Wednesday, the Moscow Commercial Court accepted a defamation lawsuit by Basic Element (BasEl) holding company owner Oleg Deripaska against Agentstvo Politicheskikh Novostey (Politics News Agency), the court spokesperson told the Russian Legal Information Agency.

The source has not specified the reason for the action. Oleg Sudakov, one of the site's columnists, is a co-defendant in the case.

Speaking to RIA Novosti, BasEl confirmed the submission of the suit, but declined to pass any comments. RIA Novosti has yet to reach the defendants for comments.

One of Sudakov's stories published in October 2011 mentions Deripaska in connection with the tragic death of Achinsk Alimina Refinery trade union leader. However, RAPSI has received no confirmation that the lawsuit is centered on this article.

BasEl is a major Russia's business group with assets in energy, engineering, construction, aircraft, agriculture, the financial sector and other areas.