Alexander Lebedev news stories on Newser

Russian Billionaires Brawl on TV

Kate Schwartz — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:41:51 CDT

It's hard to say what makes this footage of one Russian tycoon sucker-punching another on a TV show extra hilarious: Maybe it's the glowing purple orb that sits in the middle of the discussion about the economic crisis. Maybe it's because property developer Sergei Polonsky announces he sometimes feels like...

Iconic London Paper Goes Free After 182 Years

Jason Farago — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:54:00 CDT

The Evening Standard , London's 182-year-old afternoon newspaper, will become a freesheet later this month in an attempt to pump up the struggling title's circulation. The Standard , purchased by Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev last year for the fire-sale price of one pound, loses $16 million a year and may fire staff...

Putin Denies Digging ABBA Cover Show

Wesley Oliver — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:38:03 CST

Vladimir Putin is no dancing queen, the Kremlin insists, denying reports that Russia’s prime minister attended a hush-hush ABBA cover concert, AFP reports. “Officially and for sure Vladimir Putin never took part in any concert of the kind,” Putin’s spokesman said. “He wasn’t there.” One female performer countered, “I got...

Mamma Mia! Putin's a Dancing Queen

Peter Fearon — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:56:01 CST

Russia's Vladimir Putin may appear to have ice flowing through his veins, but beneath that arctic exterior is the pulsating heart of an ABBA fan. The Russian PM paid $30,000 to have Abba tribute group Bjorn Again secretly flown to Moscow for a private concert for himself and a...

Want to Own a Newspaper? Got $1.50?

Jason Farago — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:19:17 CST

A Russian oligarch with a past in the KGB is set to buy one of London's most visible newspapers, at the knockdown price of just a buck and a half. Alexander Lebedev will acquire the Evening Standard for the token price—the cost of two copies—from a media conglomerate...

Russia Tycoons Seek $78B Kremlin Bailout

Rebecca Smith Hurd — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:33:01 CST

A dozen years after bailing out the Soviet government, Russia’s oligarchs are seeking $78 billion in Kremlin handouts to weather the credit crunch, Bloomberg reports. Russian businesses have racked up some $110 billion in foreign debt due in 2009. The one-year loans, sought by more than 100 companies, would likely...