MOSCOW, March 7 (RAPSI) - UK-based New Art Production (NAP) Limited filed an appeal with the Supreme Commercial Court against the decision to dismiss the lawsuit against Moscow Circus, the court told RAPSI on Friday.

The Moscow Commercial Court dismissed a 120,000-pound lawsuit filed by the UK New Art Production Limited last summer. The court also declared invalid a contract on organizing the UK circus' tour in Russia in accordance with a counterclaim filed by the Moscow Circus.

New Art Production's lawyers said during the hearing that in July 2012 the sides signed an agreement whereby the Russian circus was to organize a Russian tour of the UK circus. However, the Russian circus' new management refused to honor the contract. New Art Production has filed for default charges.

The Moscow Circus' lawyer argued that the agreement was not signed based on the results of a tender and that the deal was very large and thus should have been coordinated with the Culture Ministry. The Moscow Circus also questions the competence of the individual who signed the contract on behalf of the plaintiff.

On September 27, an appeals court upheld the dismissal of New Art Production's lawsuit. On January 9, a cassation appeal was also rejected.

According to the UK company registry Companies House, New Art Productions Limited was established in 2001 with a charter capital of 100 pounds to organize shows and promote performing artists. It was headed by UK national Viktor Pilipovich until last April, when Galina Pilipovich took over.

Media reported that the UK circus company intended to demand compensation from the Moscow Circus' new director for breach of contract.

Reportedly, the British Royal Circus had filed a suit over Zapashny's alleged failure to meet his obligations for no given reason in a 45 million ruble ($1.3 million) contract on the companies' joint performance scheduled for 2013.