MOSCOW, April 10 - RAPSI. The Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals upheld a decision to dismiss the lawsuit by Severnaya Verf Shipbuilding Plant against Gazeta.ru on the protection of its business reputation.

On Tuesday, the court dismissed the shipyard's appeal against the Moscow Commercial Court's decision of last December.

The hearing was connected with Gazeta.ru's article published in July, 2011. Among other things, the article said that the United Industrial Corporation suspected Severnaya Verf of partially embezzling funds received as part of financing for a state defense order.

The commercial court dismissed the shipyard's defamation lawsuit since it found that the disputed information contained no statements about the shipyard having committed any crimes.

Severnaya Verf is one of Russia's leading shipyards. It mostly produces military ships and commercial vessels.

Gazeta.Ru is a well-known online news portal in Russia, established in 1999.