LONDON, October 3 - RAPSI. The High Court of Justice in London started to hear the lawsuit filed by Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky against his former business partner Roman Abromovich on Monday. Both oligarchs appeared before the court in person, RIA Novosti reports.

Berezovsky seeks compensation for assets that he was forced to sell to Abramovich from 2000 to 2003.

Berezovsky claims in his lawsuit that Abramovich intimidated him and his business partner Badri Patarkatsishvili into selling a number of assets including a 43-percent share in Sibneft and a stake in the Rusal aluminum group for significantly less than their value.

The claimed amount constitutes the difference between the price and the market value.

British mass media have called the dispute the legal battle of the year.