Alexander Lebedev charged over TV brawl

By John Reynolds, mediaweek.co.uk, Thursday, 27 September 2012 09:21AM

Alexander Lebedev, the Russian backer of the Independent and London Evening Standard, has been charged with "hooliganism motivated by political hatred", a year after he threw a punch at a property developer on a TV show.

Alexander Lebedev: approaches businessman Sergei Polonsky

The change of "hooliganism motivated by political hatred" is the same charge that was brought against Pussy Riot, the feminist punk band.

Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in a prison colony.

Lebedev could face up to a possible seven years in prison.

Lebedev’s son Evgeny, owner of the Independent, the Independent on Sunday and London Evening Standard, yesterday (26 September) wrote on Twitter: "He is being targeted by people who don’t like his stance against corruption, and hate Novoya.

"I don’t condone violence, but punishment does not fit the crime here. We need more Russians to speak out against injustice, not fewer. I hope this isn’t the start of a new crackdown."

The 52-year-old Lebedev also co-owns Russia's main pro-democracy newspaper, Novoya Gazeta and has been a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin.

The charge against Lebedev relates to an incident last September when Lebedev appeared on the Moscow TV station NTV, and was involved in a scuffle with Sergie Polonsky, a property developer.

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk