Russian Billionaire Punches A CEO on Russian TV

Russian billionaire Alexandre Lebedev punched a man in the face on Russian TV during a debate on the economic climate. Property developer Sergei Polonsky fell onto the floor of the studio's elevated platform.


Lebedev, the puncher, is a former KGB operative who owns UK newspapers the Independent and the Evening Standard as well as a stake in Russian airline Aeroflot. He also co-owns liberal Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta with ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

According to TNT Magazine, Lebedev vented his frustration after the show on his blog, saying: “Unfortunately, NTV viewers cannot see how Polonsky behaved during the one-and-a-half hour recording. Everybody could see that he was absolutely off his head.”

He then mocked Polonsky for complaining of an injured hand and damaged clothing after the fight.

“Now, he's showing his ripped pants, and it is hard to say anything about that. He was hit in the face and he's showing off a hole in the backside of his trousers. Strange,” wrote Lebedev.