MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI) - AO International Airport Sherermetyevo has lodged an appeal against a ruling of the Commercial Court of the Moscow Region ordering it to pay 74.3 million rubles ($1 million) to the regional Ministry of Environment in an environment harm case, according to court records.

In February, the court after examining a claim of the regional Ministry of Environment ruled to collect the funds from Sherermetyevo. The amount was ordered to be transferred to the budget of the Khimki Urban District as a compensation of harm to the environment.

According to the claim, local residents informed environmental authorities about the fact of dirty water discharge in a creek running from the airport territory. In 2019, the Ministry initiated an administrative case over these facts. As it was established, it was Sheremetyevo airport that used a waste treatment facility on the said creek under a concessionary agreement.

Environmental authorities estimated that harm to the ecology made 74.3 million rubles; the airport was found guilty of the respective administrative offense. After Sheremetyevo had failed to comply with that decision, the authority turned to courts.

The commercial court rejected the respondent’s arguments that the Ministry of Environment of the Moscow Region was not a proper claimant in the case.