Moscow City Court shuts down Sova center in Justice Ministry lawsuit

MOSCOW. April 27 (Interfax) - The Moscow City Court has granted an administrative legal application filed by the city branch of the Justice Ministry for the Sova information-analytical center, designated as a foreign agent in Russia, to be shut down, a court spokesperson told Interfax on Thursday.

"The legal application has been granted," the spokesperson said.

The ministry's demands were related to claims over the center staging and participating in events outside its area of registration (Moscow).

Sova had denied the claim and asked the court to reject the suit. The center intends to appeal the ruling.

Sova was founded in 2002. Its director is Alexander Verkhovsky, a former member of the Russian presidential council for the promotion of civil society and human rights.