Evgeny Lebedev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Lebedev
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Lebedev in 2012
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 19 November 2020 Life peerage |
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| Personal details | |
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Evgeny Alexandrovich Lebedev
8 May 1980 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Nationality | Russian British |
| Political party | Crossbench |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Vladimir Sokolov (grandfather) |
| Residences | London, England |
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Evgeny Alexandrovich Lebedev, Baron Lebedev (born 8 May 1980), is a Russian-British businessman. He owns Lebedev Holdings Ltd, which runs the Evening Standard newspaper and ESTV (London Live). He is also an investor in The Independent newspaper.
In July 2020, Evgeny Lebedev was suggested for a special title called a life peerage by the British prime minister, Boris Johnson. This was for his charity work and contributions to media. He was given the title Lord Lebedev in November 2020 and became a member of the House of Lords. His full title is Baron Lebedev, of Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and of Siberia in the Russian Federation.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Evgeny Lebedev was born in Moscow. His father, Alexander Lebedev, was a Russian banker and a former intelligence officer. His mother, Natalia Sokolova, was an engineer. His grandfather, Vladimir Sokolov, was a scientist.
When he was eight years old, Evgeny moved to London. He attended primary school and then Holland Park Comprehensive School and Mill Hill School. He also studied the history of art in London. He has lived in the UK ever since and became a British citizen in 2010. He has dual nationality, meaning he is a citizen of both Russia and the UK.
Media Business
In January 2009, Evgeny Lebedev and his father bought a large share (65%) of the Evening Standard newspaper. They bought most of the newspaper for a very small amount of money. At that time, the newspaper was losing a lot of money each year.
Under the Lebedevs' ownership, the Evening Standard became a free newspaper in October 2009. This made its circulation (how many copies were given out) three times bigger, reaching 700,000 copies.
In March 2010, Evgeny Lebedev also bought The Independent and The Independent on Sunday newspapers. Later that year, in October, he launched a new newspaper called i. This was the first new national daily newspaper in the UK since 1986.
In 2016, the i newspaper was sold to another company. The Independent then became a digital-only newspaper, meaning it was only available online.
Other Interests and Property
Evgeny Lebedev co-owns a pub in London called The Grapes with famous actors Ian McKellen and Sean Mathias. He also bought a hotel in Switzerland called Château Gütsch in 2012, which he later sold.
He owns a flat in central London and a historic mansion called Stud House near Hampton Court Palace. He and his father also own properties in rural Perugia, Italy.
Evgeny Lebedev has been friends with former prime minister Boris Johnson for many years. His newspaper, the Evening Standard, supported Johnson when he ran for Mayor of London.
In the House of Lords
In November 2020, Evgeny Lebedev officially became Baron Lebedev and joined the House of Lords. The House of Lords is part of the UK Parliament, where members discuss and make laws. He sits as a crossbencher, which means he does not belong to a specific political party. He gave his first speech in the House of Lords in May 2021.
Some people had concerns about his appointment because his father was a former intelligence officer. However, Evgeny Lebedev has stated that he is not a security risk and is proud to be a British citizen. He said his family has always supported press freedom.
There were discussions in Parliament about the advice given to the prime minister regarding Lebedev's appointment. In March 2022, the Labour Party asked the government to share security advice about the peerage. The government later said that the detailed security advice would not be released to protect national security. Lebedev himself said he was disappointed by this decision and wanted the full document to be shared.
As of early 2024, Lebedev has attended the House of Lords only a few times. In November 2023, he gave a speech about protecting free speech.
Helping Others
Evgeny Lebedev is a patron of the Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund. This fund helps people in London who are experiencing poverty. It has raised over £13 million since it started in 2010.
In 2018, he launched a campaign called #AIDSFree with The Independent and Evening Standard. This campaign raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2019, he announced that both newspapers would start a multi-year campaign to help with homelessness in London and around the world.
During the coronavirus lockdown in the UK, Lebedev's newspapers partnered with a charity called The Felix Project. They worked to provide food to people who needed it, including vulnerable individuals, charities, and hospitals. By December 2020, their 'Food for London Now' appeal had raised over £10 million and delivered 20 million meals.
Personal Life
Evgeny Lebedev enjoys collecting modern British art. He owns pieces by famous artists like Tracey Emin, Sir Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, and Jake and Dinos Chapman. He also knows a lot about Renaissance art and a type of poetry called vorticist poetry. He used to have a pet wolf named Boris.
His wealth comes from his father, Alexander Lebedev.
See also
In Spanish: Evgeny Lébedev para niños
