A Moscow district court has fined several Russian media outlets for associating Oscar-winning Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov with a diamond company accused of illegal practices, a news report said Tuesday.
Forbes Russia, Ria Novosti and TV Center, among others, were hit with a total fine of 400,000 rubles ($11,500) for the portrayal of Mikhalkov as the owner of Dundela Limited and the misuse of his image to accompany news about the case, Rapsi news agency reported Tuesday.
Diamond firm Dundela Limited was accused in November 2013 of not having the necessary license to sell diamonds in Russia and not registering with the authorities.
Though Mikhalkov owns a 10-percent stake in the company, he did not know its managers and never visited its offices, Mikhalkov's press service said.
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