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Alexander Lebedev set to avoid jail in 'hooliganism' trial Alexander Lebedev set to avoid jail in 'hooliganism' trial
(about 3 hours later)
The Russian media magnate Alexander Lebedev looks set to avoid prison after a surprising twist to the final day of his trial on charges of hooliganism and battery for punching a fellow businessman.The Russian media magnate Alexander Lebedev looks set to avoid prison after a surprising twist to the final day of his trial on charges of hooliganism and battery for punching a fellow businessman.
After weeks of arguing that Lebedev had punched the fallen real estate mogul Sergei Polonsky because he was a hooligan motivated by political hatred, on Friday prosecutors suddenly asked a Moscow judge to drop those charges, which carry up to five years in prison. After weeks of arguing that Lebedev had punched the fallen property mogul Sergei Polonsky because he was a hooligan motivated by political hatred, prosecutors on Friday suddenly asked a Moscow judge to drop those charges, which carry up to five years in prison.
Instead they asked that he be found guilty of battery and have his freedom "restricted" for 21 months, meaning he would be have to check in with an officer four times a month and be banned from attending large gatherings. Instead, they asked that Lebedev be found guilty of battery and have his freedom "restricted" for 21 months, meaning he would have to register with an officer four times a month and be banned from attending large gatherings.
The unexpected turn of events, just a day after prosecutors continued to argue in support of Lebedev's "hooliganism", prompted speculation that higher powers had intervened. A judge is due to hand down his verdict on Tuesday.The unexpected turn of events, just a day after prosecutors continued to argue in support of Lebedev's "hooliganism", prompted speculation that higher powers had intervened. A judge is due to hand down his verdict on Tuesday.
"It seems 'they' woke up," Lebedev said, referring to Russian officials. A jail sentence for the financial backer of the Evening Standard and the Independent would have dealt another severe blow to Russia's already poor political reputation and business climate. "It seems 'they' woke up," Lebedev said, referring to Russian officials. A prison sentence for the financial backer of the Evening Standard and the Independent would have dealt another severe blow to Russia's already poor political reputation and business climate.
Lebedev was charged in September 2012, a year after he punched Polonsky during the filming of a television chatshow. He has insisted from the start that the case against him was fabricated, motivated by overzealous law enforcement agencies eager to punish him for his campaign against corruption and his co-ownership of Novaya Gazeta, Russia's main investigative newspaper. Lebedev was charged in September 2012, a year after he punched Polonsky during the filming of a TV chatshow. He has insisted from the start that the case against him was fabricated, motivated by overzealous law-enforcement agencies eager to punish him for his campaign against corruption and his co-ownership of Novaya Gazeta, Russia's main investigative newspaper.
But the case has always been murky and has progressed almost completely under the radar inside Russia. Since opening in late May, the trial has received almost no media attention. Officials, high-ranking or otherwise, have not commented on it. But the case has always been murky and has progressed largely under the radar inside Russia. Since opening in late May, the trial has received almost no media attention. Officials have not commented on it.
Instead Lebedev and his team of lawyers have attended almost daily sessions in a tiny courtroom in northern Moscow in near obscurity, attempting to prove that he felt no political hatred toward Polonsky and that his punches had never landed on him. Lebedev and his team of lawyers have attended almost daily sessions in a tiny courtroom in northern Moscow in near obscurity, attempting to prove that he felt no political hatred toward Polonsky and that his punches had never landed on him.
Lebedev called forth an endless list of famous backers, submitting character reports to the court written by the likes of John Malkovich, Elton John and Hugh Grant, begging the court for leniency. His lawyer, Henry Reznik, is Russia's most famous and used his booming baritone to impress upon the court the heft of Lebedev's reputation. Lebedev called on a list of famous backers, submitting character reports written by John Malkovich, Elton John and Hugh Grant begging the court for leniency. His lawyer, Henry Reznik, is Russia's most famous advocate and used his booming baritone to impress upon the court the heft of Lebedev's reputation.
"What is political hatred?" Reznik asked the court on Friday. "It is the strongest emotion that can grab a person. It can suffocate a person.""What is political hatred?" Reznik asked the court on Friday. "It is the strongest emotion that can grab a person. It can suffocate a person."
He said there were no signs of political disagreement between Lebedev and Polonsky, who had never met before recording the chat show on state-run NTV. "It's not even clear Polonsky has political views," he said. He said there were no signs of political disagreement between Lebedev and Polonsky, who had never met before recording the chatshow on state-run NTV. "It's not even clear Polonsky has political views," said Reznik.
Polonsky, who lost much of his fortune and holdings in the global financial crisis, failed to attend the trial. Earlier this year, he was arrested in Cambodia for allegedly assaulting a group of fishermen. He was later released, but still faces charges and is believed to be hiding in Israel. Polonsky, who lost much of his fortune and holdings in the global financial crisis, failed to attend the trial. Last year, he was arrested in Cambodia for allegedly assaulting sailors. He was later released, but still faces charges and is believed to be hiding in Israel.
Polonsky's lawyer, Vadim Samsonov, used his final argument on Friday to insist that Lebedev was motivated by political hatred because the TV show taping began with a short clip of Vladimir Putin speaking. Polonsky's lawyer, Vadim Samsonov, used his final argument on Friday to insist that Lebedev was motivated by political hatred because the TV recording began with a short clip of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, speaking.
"They used the word politics four times in five minutes," he said, adding that he did not understand how someone like Lebedev, "well-known, successful, rich, an ex-spy" could react as he did. "I was shocked by the incorrectness of his behaviour," Samsonov said."They used the word politics four times in five minutes," he said, adding that he did not understand how someone like Lebedev, "well-known, successful, rich, an ex-spy" could react as he did. "I was shocked by the incorrectness of his behaviour," Samsonov said.
Lebedev served as a KGB foreign intelligence officer before the fall of the Soviet Union. Lebedev was a KGB foreign intelligence officer in the Soviet Union.
The absurdity of the case was only compounded when word reached the court in the midst of Samsonov's hour-long presentation that Polonsky, who is known for his eccentricity, had suddenly issued two statements on his Facebook page: one calling for his lawyer to be fired and the other asking the judge to find Lebedev not guilty. The absurdity of the case was only compounded when word reached the court in the midst of during Samsonov's hour-long address that Polonsky, who is known for his eccentricity, had suddenly issued two statements on his Facebook page: one calling for his lawyer to be fired and the other asking the judge to find Lebedev not guilty.
"In this crazy world, according to official statistics, 35% of people are psychologically unbalanced," Polonsky wrote. "In court we see that Lebedev behaves normally and isn't throwing himself upon anyone with his fists."In this crazy world, according to official statistics, 35% of people are psychologically unbalanced," Polonsky wrote. "In court we see that Lebedev behaves normally and isn't throwing himself upon anyone with his fists.
"I ask not to issue a guilty verdict to Lebedev because he won't hold up in jail, and for him a fine isn't a real punishment. I ask you forgive Lebedev for his psychological imbalance.""I ask not to issue a guilty verdict to Lebedev because he won't hold up in jail, and for him a fine isn't a real punishment. I ask you forgive Lebedev for his psychological imbalance."
Lebedev said he found Friday's turn of events "quite surprising" and "very rare".Lebedev said he found Friday's turn of events "quite surprising" and "very rare".
Asked how he felt after months of preparing for a possible prison sentence, he said: "Before I hear the actual verdict, I'll be ready for anything."Asked how he felt after months of preparing for a possible prison sentence, he said: "Before I hear the actual verdict, I'll be ready for anything."
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