Russian media mogul Alexander Lebedev, who owns two UK newspapers, has punched a fellow guest off his seat during a televised economic debate in Moscow. Mr Lebedev, owner of the Independent and Evening Standard, hit former real estate businessmen Sergei Polonsky with two right hooks, sending him off the back of the platform.
Mr Lebedev said Mr Polonsky had been aggressive throughout the debate. "I neutralised him," Mr Lebedev said. Just prior to the attack, Mr Polonsky told the other guests he wanted to "stick one in the mouth". Mr Lebedev stands, turns to the audience and then sits back down, only to launch immediately into a two-punch attack that sends Mr Polonsky sprawling.
YouTube link.
Mr Lebedev, who also co-owns the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and is the largest private share holder in Aeroflot, used his blog to try to justify the assault. "In a critical situation, there is no choice. I see no reason to be hit with the first shot. I neutralised him."
Mr Polonsky did not appear to be harmed but pictures posted later online appeared to show a cut arm and torn trousers. Mr Polonsky is considering legal action. But Mr Polonsky's complaint about ripped trousers drew short shrift from Mr Lebedev. "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," Mr Lebedev wrote.
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