Alexander Lebedev charged with hooliganism over chatshow punch-up

Investigation finds the media tycoon ‘brought bodily harm’ to fellow billionaire Sergei Polonsky on the TV programme Russian prosecutors have launched a criminal case against the media tycoon Alexander Lebedev on charges of hooliganism for punching a fellow billionaire on a television programme. Lebedev would be charged with hooliganism after a preliminary investigation found that the incident “brought bodily harm” to Sergei Polonsky, the Moscow investigative committee of the general prosecutor’s office said in a statement posted on its website. The charges could carry up to two years in prison, Russian news agencies said. Lebedev, owner of the Independent and London Evening Standard, punched the property developer during a chatshow on the NTV channel . The notoriously brash Polonsky had been arguing with guests on the show when he said he was “already worn out from the desire to give [him] a punch in the chops”, gesturing to Lebedev. Lebedev jumped from his seat and threw punches at Polonsky, knocking him backwards off his chair. After the attack Russia’s prime minister, Vladimir Putin, said the incident amounted to “hooliganism”. Lebedev later defended the move, while Polonsky immediately said he would consider legal action. Polonsky, the former owner of Mirax Group, one of Russia’s biggest property developers, posted photographs online showing a cut on his arm and a tear in his trousers after the brawl. Lebedev could not be immediately reached for comment. Alexander Lebedev Russia Europe Miriam Elder guardian.co.uk

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