MOSCOW, April 11 (RAPSI) – Russian TV anchor Nikolai Fomenko has appealed recovery of nearly 65 million rubles ($970,000) in debt to a bank that gave him a credit for research and development of Marussia sportcar project, press-secretary of the Tverskoy District Court in Moscow told RAPSI on Monday.

Another defendant in this case along with Fomenko is a co-owner of Marussia Motors company, Anton Kolesnikov. Both men were earlier ordered to pay about 65 million rubles to “Bank Otkritie” (formerly known as Petrocommerce bank).

In 2007, Fomenko founded Marussia Motors company, specializing on production of supercars. In 2014, the company went bankrupt.

In 2011, the bank gave a 60-million ruble credit ($895,000) to Fomenko for development of Marussia supercar. Kolesnikov was listed as guarantor in this deal.

Fomenko claims that while there was a credit deal, he did not receive any money and that signature under the document is not his. He also claims that he was outside Russia when the deal was made. According to the court’s expertise, Fomenko’s signature is genuine.