Alexander Lebedev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Lebedev
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| Александр Лебедев | |
Lebedev in 2019
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| Born |
Alexander Yevgenievich Lebedev
16 December 1959 |
| Alma mater | Moscow State Institute of International Relations |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Former KGB officer |
| Spouse(s) |
Natalia Sokolova
(separated 1998) |
| Partner(s) | Elena Perminova (2005–2024) |
| Children | 5, including Evgeny |
Alexander Yevgenievich Lebedev (Russian: Александр Евгеньевич Лебедев; born 16 December 1959) is a Russian businessman. He is known for owning newspapers in the United Kingdom, like the Evening Standard and The Independent. He also co-owns the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta.
Before becoming a businessman, he worked for the KGB, a government intelligence agency in the Soviet Union. At one point, he was one of Russia's richest people, but his wealth has changed over time. In 2022, Canada placed sanctions on him.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alexander Lebedev was born in Moscow, the capital of Russia. His parents were both educated and worked in important fields. His father, Yevgeny Nikolaevich Lebedev, was a talented athlete. He was part of the Soviet national water polo team. Later, he became a professor at a top technical university in Moscow.
Lebedev's mother, Maria Sergeyevna, taught English. She worked in a school on Sakhalin island and later in a college in Moscow.
In 1977, Lebedev began studying economics at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. After graduating in 1982, he started research for his advanced degree. His research focused on global economic challenges.
Career in Intelligence Services
After his studies, Lebedev joined the KGB. This was the main intelligence agency of the Soviet Union. From 1988, he worked at the Soviet embassy in London. His son, Evgeny Lebedev, was with him in London.
At the embassy, he focused on economic matters. He continued to work for the KGB's successor agency until 1992.
Business Career
After leaving the intelligence services, Lebedev started his first company. This company was called the Russian Investment-Finance Company. In 1995, this company bought the National Reserve Bank. This was a small Russian bank that was having problems.
The bank grew quickly and became one of Russia's largest banks. It owned parts of several big Russian companies. These included the main national airline, Aeroflot. It also owned parts of the aircraft-building industry. The bank also had shares in major companies like Sberbank and Gazprom.
Lebedev's group of companies, National Reserve Corporation, owned many different businesses. These included Russia's biggest potato producer. They also built affordable houses. The group had interests in many industries. These were textiles, telecommunications, and tourism. They owned a large hotel network in Crimea.
On 21 January 2009, Lebedev bought a large share of the Evening Standard newspaper. He paid £1 for about 75% of the shares. He promised not to interfere with how the newspaper was run. Lebedev said he used to read the Evening Standard to find information when he was a spy in London.
In 2010, Lebedev also bought The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers for £1.
In 2019, Lebedev invested in a project that builds electric-powered passenger ships. The first ship, called the Ekovolt catamaran, was launched in 2020. In 2021, he launched a new project. It is a cryptocurrency platform called "Independent Decentralized Finance SmartBank & Ecosystem."
Political Career
In 2003, Lebedev ran for mayor of Moscow. He also ran for a seat in the State Duma, which is like Russia's parliament. He won a seat in the State Duma and stayed there until 2007.
Lebedev was the Vice Chairman of the Duma's committee on the Commonwealth of Independent States. He also worked on interactions with Ukraine's parliament.
Lebedev and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev were co-owners of Novaya Gazeta. This newspaper is known for being critical of the Russian government.
In 2008, Mikhail Gorbachev announced he would return to politics with Lebedev. Their party was called the Independent Democratic Party of Russia.
In 2009, Lebedev announced he would run for mayor of Sochi. Sochi was the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, a court ruled that his candidacy was not valid. This was because his campaign received small donations from teenagers. Russian law forbids donations from minors. Lebedev said the teenagers were told to donate the money to his campaign.
Lebedev publicly supported the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea. In 2017, he held a meeting in Crimea. He said it was to correct how Western media showed Crimea.
In 2019, he wrote a book called Hunt the Banker: The Confessions of a Russian Ex-Oligarch.
Charity
Lebedev has supported many cultural and charity projects. He created an organization called Charitable Reserve Fund (BRF). This fund helps manage his charity work.
Some of the projects he has supported include:
- A center for children's blood diseases in Saint Petersburg.
- The Burdenko Military Hospital.
- The State Russian Museum.
- Different theaters, like the Fomenko Theater and the Moscow Art Theatre.
- The restoration of a monument to Alexander Suvorov in the Swiss Alps.
- A monument in London called Sorrow, honoring Soviet soldiers who died in World War II.
Lebedev has received awards for his charity work. These include the Saint Innokenty of Moscow Order from the Russian Orthodox Church. He also received the Dialogue of Cultures medal from UNESCO.
Sanctions
Since July 2022, Lebedev has been under sanctions by Canada. This happened after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions are restrictions placed on individuals or countries.
Personal Life
Lebedev's first wife was Natalia Sokolova. They have one child together, Evgeny Lebedev. They separated in 1998. Evgeny Lebedev is now a member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.
Since 2005, Lebedev's partner has been Elena Perminova. She is a former model. They have four children together: three sons and a daughter.
Lebedev hosts many social events. Famous guests have included Mick Jagger, Keira Knightley, and Boris Johnson.
Lebedev owns two large properties in Italy. These are the Palazzo Terranova and the Castello di Santa Eurasia. These homes can be rented. The Lebedevs have hosted many famous people and politicians at these properties.
See Also
In Spanish: Aleksánder Lébedev para niños
- Russian oligarchs
