Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev has left his role in the Independent, shortly after being subjected to economic sanctions by Canada to “directly enable” the Russian war in Ukraine.
It means that the former KGB agent now has no formal role in the British press, as he can protect the Independent from any sanctions-related problems.
Last week, Canada named Lebedev on a list of 14 prominent people who had “directly allowed Vladimir Putin’s senseless war in Ukraine and taken responsibility for the pain and suffering of the people of Ukraine.” Canadian individuals and businesses are now banned from doing business with it and its affiliates.
The 62-year-old Russian bought the Independent for £ 1 in 2010, after taking control of the London Evening Standard for the same amount the previous year. He later transferred control of the publications to his son Evgeny, a friend of Boris Johnson who was recently given a seat in the House of Lords by the Prime Minister, despite concerns from security services. Since then, the two media outlets have amassed huge losses, while giving the Lebedevs some influence in British society.
Corporate documents show that Alexander Lebedev resigned as director of Independent Print Ltd on Sunday, the day after it was publicly announced that he was on the Canadian sanctions list. The company is one of the networks of companies involved in the ownership of Independent and Evening Standard.
A newspaper spokesman downplayed the importance of former Lebedev’s resignation from the board of directors, saying he had not been actively involved in the business. They said: “Alexander Lebedev has no role, commercial or not, in the operation of the Independent or the Evening Standard.”
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Alexander Lebedev took a leading role as a banker in Russia in the 1990s before funding the opposition Novaya Gazeta. His wife, Elena Perminova, 35, has continued to post updates to her popular Instagram account about fashion launches, with recent images showing the family vacationing in Istanbul.
The decision to put Alexander Lebedev on the sanctions list has renewed scrutiny of the prime minister’s decision to grant his 42-year-old son a nobility. So far, the government has breached an instruction from the House of Commons to divulge information about the decision to make Evgeny Lebedev equal, arguing that this would undermine the confidentiality of those appointed to the upper house of parliament and could degenerate into a “political point”. annotating ”.
Cabinet Minister Michael Ellis told parliament he did not believe it was in the public interest to publish correspondence related to the decision, adding: “Lord Lebedev is a man of good repute.”
Ownership of the Independent and Evening Standard has long been a source of intrigue. Since taking control of his father’s outlets, Evgeny Lebedev has sold minority stakes in a bank with close ties to the state of Saudi Arabia.