1. In July 2020, Evgeny Lebedev was nominated for a life peerage by British prime minister Boris Johnson for philanthropy and services to the media, a move that drew widespread criticism due to Evgeny Lebedev's father having been a KGB agent.
20 Facts About Evgeny Lebedev
1. 2.
Evgeny Lebedev was appointed to be a crossbench life peer in the House of Lords as Lord Lebedev in November 2020.
3.
Evgeny Lebedev moved to London at the age of eight, when his father began working at the Soviet Embassy.
4.
Evgeny Lebedev attended St Barnabas and St Philip's Church of England Primary School in Kensington, followed by Holland Park Comprehensive School and Mill Hill School.
5.
Evgeny Lebedev studied the history of art at Christie's in London.
6.
Evgeny Lebedev has lived in the UK ever since, and became a British citizen in 2010.
7.
On 25 March 2010, just weeks before it was due to close, Evgeny Lebedev bought The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.
8.
Evgeny Lebedev has been reported to own a flat in central London near Regent's Park as well as the Grade II-listed mansion Stud House in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
9.
Evgeny Lebedev had maintained friendship with Boris Johnson since the late 2000s, with Lebedev's Evening Standard endorsing Johnson as the Mayor of London.
10.
In July 2020, Evgeny Lebedev was nominated for a life peerage by Boris Johnson in the 2020 Political Honours.
11.
Evgeny Lebedev sits in the Lords as a crossbencher, and made his maiden speech on 12 May 2021 during the debate on the Queen's Speech after the 2021 State Opening of Parliament.
12.
The Sunday Times reported that security services were uneasy over Evgeny Lebedev from 2013 and Evgeny Lebedev's father was a KGB agent.
13.
SNP leader Ian Blackford wanted Evgeny Lebedev's parliamentary pass revoked due to these concerns.
14.
Evgeny Lebedev has stated that he is not a security risk and is "proud to be a British citizen and consider Britain my home".
15.
Evgeny Lebedev said his father "spent his time campaigning against corruption and illegal financial dealings" and his family "has a record of standing up for press freedom" in Russia.
16.
Evgeny Lebedev expressed disappointment about the decision not to release the advice, and called for the full document to be provided to the House.
17.
In November 2023, Evgeny Lebedev gave a speech in the House of Lords warning against the erosion of free speech.
18.
Evgeny Lebedev collects modern British art, and owns pieces by Tracey Emin, Sir Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Jake and Dinos Chapman.
19.
Evgeny Lebedev had a pet wolf called Boris, named after the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
20.
Evgeny Lebedev derives his wealth from his father, Alexander Lebedev, a Russian oligarch and former KGB officer.