Oleg Deripaska has filed a lawsuit against the Associated Press for libel
WASHINGTON, may 16 — RIA Novosti, Alexei Bogdanovsky. The businessman Oleg Deripaska has filed a lawsuit against the news Agency the associated Press, accusing him of libel, according to the documents of the case.
The lawsuit was filed in Federal district court for the district of Columbia capital. The statement said that on March 22 journalists Jeff Horwitz and Chad dey had published an article in which “falsely accused Mr. Deripaska of involvement in criminal acts and other inappropriate things.”
Previously, the Agency reported that ten years ago a former adviser to the election campaign of US President Donald trump by Paul Manafort allegedly worked for the billionaire, to promote Russian interests in the former Soviet Union. According to unnamed sources familiar with the matter and documents, seen by the associated Press, Manafort and Deripaska signed a 10 million contract, which came into force in 2006, and maintained business relationships at least until 2009. These documents contain the strategic plans of Manafort and accounts of a multimillion-dollar transfers.
Deripaska called the information false. The head of service on public relations of the associated Press Lauren Easton said RIA Novosti that the Agency is sticking to his story, but refuses to provide a letter, which is based on the investigation.
The businessman asked the Agency to give amendment to clarify that Deripaska and Manafort never entered into any contracts for promoting the interests of the Russian government and that any relationship between Deripaska and Monforton stopped long before allegations of links to the election headquarters of President Donald trump with Russia. In the White house and the Kremlin deny the existence of such ties. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the Kremlin has no relation to contacts Deripaska and Manafort.
The Agency refused to publish the amendment, in connection with which Deripaska sued. Requires the plaintiff to award him a fair compensation, without specifying exactly what amount he considers fair. RIA Novosti does not yet have a review by the associated Press on the suit.