Swiss firm ordered to pay damages to Russian news agency

A court in Paris has ordered the Swiss company NOGA to pay €15,000 in damages to Russia's Ria Novosti News Agency. In the 1990s, NOGA pressed charges against the Russian government, claiming the country owed it money for food and credits, delivered under

Earlier this year, NOGA froze the French deposits of RIA Novosti, claiming
the news agency belongs to the Russian Government and should be accountable for its debts.

Now, the French court has ruled that RIA Novosti is a separate entity to the government, and has ordered the unfreezing of the agency's account in the country.