MOSCOW, May 16 - RAPSI. The Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals has upheld the lower court's decision to dismiss the Sheremetyevo airport's lawsuit to recover $69,000 from the Defense Ministry for using the airports premises, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com).

The Moscow Commercial Court held against the airport's lawsuit in full on February 24.

Sheremetyevo appealed the judgment, but the appeals court turned down the appeal.

Sheremetyevo owns Terminal B, which has been used by the Defense Ministry since 1988.

The airport went to court as the ministry occupies the building without payment. In its statement of claim, the plaintiff seeks rent due between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009.

The airport holds that the ministry is using the property unlawfully as no lease agreement has ever been concluded.

Sheremetyevo is Russia's largest international airport serving aircraft flying to more than 200 destinations.