MOSCOW, December 5 - RAPSI, Diana Gutsul. The court has adjourned until January 17 its hearing of a defamation lawsuit filed by businessman Mikhail Dvorkovich against Russian Railways CEO Vladimir Yakunin, the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) reports from the court.

In early September a Moscow district court held for Yakunin in his defamation lawsuit against Dvorkovich and fined the businessman 50,000 rubles in compensation for libel. Dvorkovich appealed the judgment.

Dvorkovich said in his blog on March 16 that Yakunin's activity as the head of the railway monopoly has led to the impoverishment of the people.
Yakunin responded to these allegations in his own blog on April 1 and claimed that Dvorkovich had no honor or dignity.

Dvorkovich and Sergey Polonsky, head of Mirax development company, filed defamation lawsuits against Russian Railways head almost simultaneously. Polonsky withdrew his lawsuit several days ago.

Dvorkovich earlier told RAPSI he claims no money, but wants Yakunin to refute false information published by Yakunin in his blog on April 1, 2011.

The court decided on Monday to postpone the case at the request of the claimant as he could not attend the hearing for valid reasons but requested the case be heard in his presence.

Dvorkovich said Yakunins statements about him damaged his reputations and a number of his clients refused to cooperate with him and his company consequently filed for bankruptcy.