MOSCOW, October 27 - RAPSI, Dmitry Shchitov. An appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed by the Collection Development Center against the Rospotrebnadzor consumer protection watchdog, the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) reports from the courtroom.

Collection Development Center head Dmitry Zhdanukhin earlier told RAPSI that statements made by Rospotrebnadzor head Gennady Onishchenko about the activity of collection agencies in Russia defamed its reputation.

At a news conference on March 14, Onishchenko said collection agencies intimidate people, terrorize them on the telephone and threaten them with various actions. He emphasized that all these activities are entirely illegal.

The claimant sought a court order to force Rospotrebnadzor to publish a formal retraction on its website clarifying that these activities are pursued by "some but not all" collection agencies and add that there is no evidence that the Collection Development Center has pursued such activities.

The court earlier dismissed the plaintiff's appeal to hold a legal examination of Onishchenko's statements, which was disputed by collectors.

The Moscow Commercial Court held against the lawsuit in August. However, the center later appealed the judgment.