MOSCOW, November 22 (RAPSI) – The Supreme Court of Russia refused to reconsider a defamation dispute between billionaire Alisher Usmanov and opposition politician Alexey Navalny, the court’s press service told RAPSI on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal lodged by Navalny against a lower court’s ruling issued in May, the court’s representative said.

On May 31, the Lyublinsky District Court granted a libel suit lodged by Usmanov against Navalny. The court recognized information about Usmanov distributed by the Anti-Corruption Foundation and Navalny as discrediting and untrue and ordered the defendants to refute the statements.

The lawsuit is related to a movie published by the politician on his Youtube channel implying that Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had acquired property using non-profit foundations.

In particular, the movie implies that Usmanov has gifted a land plot with a mansion to a foundation allegedly controlled by Medvedev. The Prime Minister said that intent of “these so-called investigations” is to get people out onto the streets and to achieve particular political goals. Usmanov said that Navalny misleads people and that his assertions are libel.

According to the updated 2017 ranking compiled by Forbes magazine, Usmanov holds the fifth place in the list of Russia’s richest businessmen with a net worth $15.2 billion. His largest assets are shares in the ore and steel giant Metalloinvest, shares in electronics, media and telecom companies as well as 30% of shares in Arsenal Football Club.