The son of a Russian oligarch and KGB officer sits in the British House of Lords

[dalton99a]

Nominated by Boris Johnson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evgeny_Lebedev

Evgeny Alexandrovich Lebedev, Baron Lebedev[1] (Russian: Евгений Александрович Лебедев, tr. Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Lebedev,[a] pronounced [ɪ̯ɪvˈɡʲenʲɪɪ̯ ˈlʲebʲɪdʲɪf]; born 8 May 1980), is a Russian-British businessman, who owns Lebedev Holdings Ltd, which in turn owns the Evening Standard, The Independent and the TV channel London Live. He derives his wealth from his father, Alexander Lebedev, who is a Russian oligarch and former KGB officer.[3][4][5]

In July 2020, Lebedev was nominated for a life peerage by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for philanthropy and services to the media, a move that drew criticism.[6][7][8] British security services warned that granting Lebedev a peerage posed a national security risk, but Johnson went ahead with it despite the security service assessment.[9] Lebedev has stated that he is not a security risk and his family "has a record of standing up for press freedom" in Russia.[8] Lebedev has sat in the House of Lords as a crossbench life peer since 19 November 2020.[10]



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His father is Alexander Lebedev:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Lebedev

Alexander Yevgenievich Lebedev (Russian: Александр Евгеньевич Лебедев, IPA: [ɐlʲɪˈksandr jɪvˈɡʲenʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ˈlʲebʲɪdʲɪf]; born 16 December 1959) is a Russian businessman, and has been referred to as one of the Russian oligarchs. Until 1992, he was an officer in the First Chief Directorate (Foreign Intelligence) of the Soviet Union′s KGB and later one of the KGB's successor-agencies, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

In early 2008, he was listed as the 39th richest Russian, and worth an estimated US$3.1 billion by Forbes magazine, but by October 2008 he was worth $300 million.[1] In March 2012, Forbes estimated his fortune at US$1.1 billion. His fortune has since declined, and he is no longer considered to be a billionaire.[2] He is part owner of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta[3] and owner of two UK newspapers with his son Evgeny Lebedev: the Evening Standard and The Independent.

[ultralite001]

1. BJ was out of his f***ing mind...

That is all...

[barbaraann]

2. I'm speechless.

Maybe I should just post a video of a scream.

[sdfernando]

3. Here

[barbaraann]

5. Thank you!!! :)

[samnsara]

7. hubby has a tie with this painting...

[Hekate]

9. This

[rockfordfile]

4. pos kick him out

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Even some Tories are pissed off at this - they've forced the disclosure of the security advice

Labour and Tory rebels force disclosure of security advice on Lebedev peerage

Labour launched a bid to reveal information about Johnson’s appointment of his friend to the House of Lords, following the revelation that the intelligence services had concerns about the Russian-born businessman and son of a former KGB officer.

The opposition had been expected to fail in its attempt to force the disclosure through a humble address, but Tory rebels made clear they were not prepared to block the publication, forcing the government to allow its MPs to abstain.

The government argued against the release of the documents, with Michael Ellis, the paymaster general, saying it was an attempt to “smear a British citizen of Russian extraction in order to score cheap political points against the prime minister”.

However, it did not order Tory MPs to vote against the motion because of fears the government could lose the vote. The information relating to Lebedev’s peerage will now have to be released by the Cabinet Office no later than 28 April.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/mar/29/no-10-release-security-advice-evgeny-lebedev-peerage-boris-johnson-labour

[maxrandb]

8. Amateurs! We had a KGB asset sitting at the Resolute Desk

[dalton99a]

12. +1

[LiberalFighter]

10. Is that why Boris didn't have another referendum for Brexit?

Seems Boris might be in the pocket of Putin.

[tanyev]

11. Wow, there must be some serious kompromat on BoJo.

[milestogo]

13. BJ combed his hair. This guy must be important.