MOSCOW, July 2 - RAPSI. Moscow-based Master-Bank has filed a lawsuit against mass media which reported earlier that an individual detained on suspicion of money laundering in April was one of its vice presidents.

The defamation lawsuit has been lodged against The All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK), Business News Media (the Vedomosti daily publisher), RPK Media and Gazeta.Ru.

The Interior Ministry earlier reported that Evgeny Rogachyov, who was arrested in Sochi, is a member of an organized crime group suspected of laundering over two billion rubles ($61 million). According to the ministry, the group includes bank employees who helped their clients to evade taxes.

Master-Bank told the Prime news agency that Rogachyov ran a corporate business department at the bank, but left the company on March 1.