The petty czar

26 September 2012 By Pierre Briançon

The Russian tycoon and UK media owner spoke out against the Putin regime and has now been charged with “hooliganism” after getting involved in a brawl during a TV interview. It is too easy to see this as a precursor to the confiscation of Lebedev’s Russian business interests.

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Russia’s Investigative Committee has charged Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev with “hooliganism” and “assault and injury” for allegedly hitting the head of Mirax Group, Sergei Polonsky, the country’s top criminal investigation agency said in a statement on Wednesday obtained by Interfax, the Russian news agency.
The criminal prosecution is connected with Lebedev’s public activities to combat corruption and to support the opposition, said Lebedev’s defense lawyer Genri Reznik.
Lebedev owns a stake in Aeroflot, the Russian airline, as well as a Russian bank and Novaya Gazeta, a newspaper. His son Evgueni owns the newspapers The Independent and Evening Standard in London.

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