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 and British |
| Political party | Crossbench |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Vladimir Sokolov (grandfather) |
| Residences | London, England |
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Evgeny Alexandrovich Lebedev, also known as Lord Lebedev, was born on 8 May 1980. He is a Russian-British businessman. He owns a company called Lebedev Holdings Ltd. This company owns the Evening Standard newspaper and ESTV, which runs the TV channel London Live. He is also an investor in The Independent newspaper.
In July 2020, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, suggested that Lebedev should become a life peer. This means he would get a special title and a seat in the House of Lords. This was because of his charity work and contributions to media. He officially became a life peer in November 2020. His full title is Baron Lebedev.
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Early life and education
Evgeny Lebedev was born in Moscow, which was then part of the Soviet Union. His father, Alexander Lebedev, was a banker. His mother, Natalia Sokolova, was an engineer. His grandfather, Vladimir Sokolov, was a well-known scientist.
When Evgeny was eight years old, he moved to London. His father started working at the Soviet Embassy there. Evgeny went to primary school in Kensington. Later, he attended Holland Park Comprehensive School and Mill Hill School. He also studied the history of art at Christie's in London. He has lived in the UK ever since. In 2010, he became a British citizen, holding dual nationality.
Media interests
On 21 January 2009, Evgeny Lebedev and his father bought a large share in the Evening Standard newspaper. They bought 75.1% 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 change made its circulation, or the number of copies given out, three times higher. It quickly reached 700,000 copies.
On 25 March 2010, Lebedev bought The Independent and The Independent on Sunday newspapers. These newspapers were about to close down. On 26 October, he launched a new newspaper called i. This was the first new national daily newspaper in the UK since 1986.
In February 2016, it was announced that the i newspaper would be sold. The Independent then became a digital-only newspaper, meaning it was only available online. In 2019, there was an investigation when Lebedev sold a part of his publications to an investor from Saudi Arabia. The investigation found that the sale would not harm competition in the media market.
Other business interests
Evgeny Lebedev has other business interests besides newspapers. He co-owns a pub in London called The Grapes. He owns it with famous actors Ian McKellen and Sean Mathias.
In 2012, he bought a hotel in Switzerland called Château Gütsch. He had it renovated and later sold it. He also owns properties in London and Italy. These include a flat near Regent's Park and a historic mansion called Stud House. He and his father also own properties in rural Perugia, Italy.
Lebedev has been friends with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for many years. His newspaper, the Evening Standard, supported Johnson when he ran for Mayor of London.
Becoming a Lord
In July 2020, Boris Johnson nominated Evgeny Lebedev to become a life peer. A life peer is someone who is given a special title and a seat in the House of Lords for their lifetime. This is a part of the UK Parliament.
On 19 November 2020, he was officially given the title Baron Lebedev. He was introduced to the House of Lords on 17 December. He sits in the Lords as a crossbencher. This means he does not belong to any specific political party. He gave his first speech in the House of Lords on 12 May 2021.
Some people raised questions about Lebedev's appointment. This was partly because his father had worked for the KGB, a former Russian intelligence agency. Lebedev has stated that he is not a security risk. He said he is "proud to be a British citizen" and considers Britain his home. He also said his family has a history of supporting press freedom.
In March 2022, some politicians asked the government to share security advice given about Lebedev's peerage. The government later said that it could not release the detailed advice to protect national security. Lebedev said he was disappointed by this decision. He called for the full document to be given to the House of Commons.
As of January 2024, Lebedev has attended the House of Lords only a few times.
Charity work
Evgeny Lebedev is very involved in charity work. He is the patron of the Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund. This fund helps to fight poverty in London. It has raised over £13 million since it started in 2010.
In 2018, he launched a campaign called #AIDSFree. This campaign was run by The Independent and Evening Standard. It raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 2019, he announced that both newspapers would start a campaign to help with homelessness in London and around the world.
During the coronavirus lockdown in the UK, Lebedev's newspapers worked with a charity called The Felix Project. They helped to provide food to people who needed it, to charities, and to hospitals. By December 2020, their 'Food for London Now' appeal had raised over £10 million. It delivered 20 million meals.
Personal life
Evgeny Lebedev enjoys collecting modern British art. He owns artworks by famous artists like Tracey Emin, Sir Antony Gormley, and Damien Hirst. He also has a good knowledge of Renaissance art. He once had a pet wolf named Boris.
His wealth comes from his father, Alexander Lebedev, who is a well-known Russian businessman.
