MOSCOW, November 15 - RAPSI, Natalya Belova. A commercial court registered a major pipeline construction company's appeal against the decision to evict it from a Moscow building managed by the Maly Theater, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) on Tuesday.

Gazstroy was established in 1970. It is engaged in pipeline construction in over 70 regions across Russia.

The Maly Theater was established in 1824. It is widely considered as a national treasure and has been placed on the government's list of essential cultural facilities alongside the Bolshoi Theater, the Tretyakov Gallery and the Hermitage museum.

In October, the court satisfied a lawsuit filed by the Federal State Property Management Agency to evict the company from the building. The court dismissed Gazstroy's counter-claim on the obligatory conclusion of a lease contract on the premises with the company.

Gazstroy's representative said the company entered into a rental agreement with the State Property Agency and the Maly Theater in November 2002. He added that Gazstroy has occupied the premises for 41 years and duly met its rental obligations.

The agency's representative stated at the hearing that the parties entered into a lease contract for a term of up to 2003, but then it was extended for an unidentified period. Under the lease, any party could terminate the agreement by issuing a one-month notice to the other party. Gazstroy was duly notified of its eviction. However, since the company remained in the building, the watchdog went to court.