Russian prosecutors today asked a judge to lift the threat of jail for businessman Alexander Lebedev over punches thrown at a guest on a television chat show.
Mr Lebedev, 53, was charged with hooliganism motivated by “political hatred”, but state prosecutor Nadezhda Ignatova today asked the judge to replace it with a lesser hooliganism charge. She also asked that Mr Lebedev be given a 21-month suspended sentence.
In a separate move, alleged victim Sergei Polonsky, 40, who is believed to be hiding from Russian justice in Israel, fired his lawyers by Facebook and called on the judge to acquit Mr Lebedev.
He claimed Mr Lebedev would not be able to stand jail and said he forgave him for his “psychiatric instability” in throwing the punches. His statement was not read in court but went viral on the internet.
The prosecutor cited Mr Lebedev’s young family with Siberian-born model Elena Perminova, 26, for not pursuing the more serious charge, which could have seen him jailed for up to five years. The two Pussy Riot singers were jailed last year after facing the same charge.
Judge Andrei Bakhvalov, who is expected to give his verdict next week, does not have to follow the wishes of the state prosecutors, but Russian courts usually follow their advice and today’s move was seen as a major victory for Mr Lebedev.
The case continues.
Mr Lebedev’s son Evgeny, who owns the London Evening Standard and Independent titles, said today: “I am relieved that it appears my father will not be going to prison. This is the correct outcome.
It has been clear from the moment the incident occurred that it could not possibly have been ‘politically motivated’, a fact which has finally now been accepted by the prosecutor.
“My father and I hope that the final decisions made by the court will be fair and appropriate.”
