MOSCOW, September 25 (RAPSI) - Oleg Deripaska, Chief Executive Officer of United Co. Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer, has filed a defamation lawsuit with the Krasnoyarsk Territory Commercial Court over an article naming him a swindler, RAPSI learned in court Wednesday. 

Kaluga Governor Anatoly Artamonov is on the top of the defendants list, which includes a number of Russian mass media outlets as well. An article headlined “Artamonov named Deripaska a swindler” was published in August. 

Deripaska claims that the article contained false information, discrediting him personally. He requests that the court force the defendants to remove the article from the website where it was placed and to publish retractions. 

Notably, the same court is going to hold a hearing on October 3 into a separate defamation claim filed by Deripaska earlier. This claim centers on allegations that Rusal manages to evade taxes both in Russia and abroad. An article headlined “Oleg Deripaska refuses to pay taxes both in Russia and Guinea” was published in October 2011. The claim was filed last May, but its hearing was postponed. 

In April 2012 reports emerged that Rusal’s operations at the company's Friquia Alumina plant in Guinea have been suspended by a strike. Local media outlets reported that workers at the plant went on strike for higher wages and medical benefits. Rusal vigorously denied the reports.