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Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin Wins Luxury Yacht Libel Case

Igor Sechin Denis Abramov / Vedomosti

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin has won a libel case against Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, the Meduza news website reported Monday.

Sechin sued the paper over an article published on Aug. 1, which linked him to one of the world's most expensive yachts.

The piece claimed that Sechin's wife regularly made long trips aboard a luxury vessel, worth an estimated $190 million.

The oil tycoon also demanded that the article be removed from Novaya Gazeta's website and that copies of the paper featuring the story were destroyed.

Deputy Editor Sergei Sokolov said that the newspaper would appeal the decision, taking the case “to the Supreme Court if necessary."

Sechin has previously announced that he would settle the matter out of court if the newspaper published a retraction. The outlet declined the offer, maintaining that accepting the deal would “recognize” Sechin's claim.

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