Evgeny Lebedev derives his wealth from his father, Alexander Lebedev, a Russian oligarch and former KGB officer who was put on Canada's sanctions list following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
18 Facts About Evgeny Lebedev
2.
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 criticism.
3.
Evgeny Lebedev has sat in the House of Lords as a crossbench life peer since 19 November 2020.
4.
Evgeny Lebedev moved to London at the age of eight, when his father began working at the KGB rezidentura in the Soviet Embassy.
5.
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.
6.
Evgeny Lebedev studied the history of art at Christie's in London.
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Evgeny Lebedev has lived in the UK ever since, and became a British citizen in 2010.
8.
On 25 March 2010, just weeks before it was due to close, Evgeny Lebedev bought The Independent and The Independent on Sunday.
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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, and two large properties within 11 miles of each other in the Umbrian countryside, Italy.
10.
Evgeny Lebedev had maintained friendship with Boris Johnson since the late 2000s, with Lebedev's Evening Standard going all out in support of Johnson as the Mayor of London.
11.
Evgeny Lebedev has sat in the House of Lords as a crossbench life peer since 19 November 2020 with the title Baron Evgeny Lebedev, of Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and of Siberia in the Russian Federation.
12.
Evgeny Lebedev was supported at his House of Lords introduction ceremony by Lord Clarke of Nottingham and Lord Bird.
13.
Evgeny Lebedev made his maiden speech during the Queen's speech debate on 12 May 2021.
14.
The Sunday Times reported that security services were uneasy over Evgeny Lebedev from 2013 and Evgeny Lebedev's father was a KGB agent.
15.
SNP leader Ian Blackford wanted Evgeny Lebedev's parliamentary pass revoked due to these concerns.
16.
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.
17.
Lord 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.
18.
Evgeny Lebedev had a pet wolf called Boris, named after the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin.