MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. Rosneft requested to collect 3.1 bln rubles ($49.2 mln) from RBC media holding and its three journalists for reputational damage after publication of their article on BP’s stake in the course of privatization of the Russian company, representative of Rosneft said on Thursday at the session in Moscow Arbitration Court.

"We request to collect jointly and severally 3.1 bln rubles ($49.2 mln) from the respondent as a compensation of reputational damage," Rosneft’s representative said.

If information disputed by the claimant is not recognized as contradicting the reality, this will inevitably make damage to company’s reputation, he added.

Stated claims "show bad faith of the claimant," representative of RBC said in her turn. The court session is postponed until November 11.

Rosneft filed an action against RBC, authors of the article titled "Sechin requests government to protect Rosneft from BP" and RBC founder Business-Press company on April 26. Rosneft earlier denied information that it requested limiting BP’s abilities to increase its stake in the Russian oil major within privatization framework and said cooperation between two companies is a long-term one.

The Russian oil major said information in the publication was false and discredited honor and business reputation of Rosneft. RBC does not recognize Rosneft’s claims.

BP currently holds 19.75% of shares in Rosneft.