Moscow: Russia's richest woman, who is also the wife of Moscow's mayor, is suing the Russian edition of Forbes magazine for defamation over a story detailing her business interests, her company said on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Yelena Baturina's Inteko firm said it had filed a suit against the magazine and its editor in Russian courts seeking compensation totalling 213,000 roubles ($8,100).
"The article published in the December edition of Forbes magazine contains information which is not true," said Inteko spokesman Gennady Terebkov.
That information included "the incorrect reproduction of facts which gives readers a false impression about the company's activities, including the statement that the company enjoys support from state organs."
The Forbes cover story said Baturina was reorganising her business interests in preparation for the retirement of her husband Yuri Luzhkov. He is expected to step down as Moscow mayor when his term ends later this year.
Baturina, her company and her husband have always strenuously rejected any suggestions that her business - which has interests from construction to petrochemicals - has benefited from Luzhkov's influence.
Baturina has been married to Luzhkov for 15 years and has an estimated fortune of $1.1 billion. Her husband is one of Russia's most powerful politicians. His critics say he runs Moscow like a personal fiefdom.
Maxim Kashulinsky, the editor of Forbes Russian edition, confirmed the defamation suit but declined to make any further comment.
TheForbes cover story on Baturina has proved troublesome for the magazine and its publisher, German media company Axel Springer.
The publisher initially decided not to publish the December edition after seeing a draft. Kashulinsky tendered his resignation in protest and said the publisher was bowing to threats of legal action from Inteko.
Axel Springer later reconsidered and printed the magazine with the cover story on Baturina essentially unchanged.
Kashulinsky's predecessor at the magazine, US citizen Paul Klebnikov, was shot dead as he left his office in 2004. No one has been convicted for his murder.
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