Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev punched a talk show guest

Posted by Kayla Phantom On Sunday, September 18th 2011 in Finance

Alexander Lebedev, a well known Russian billionaire and British newspaper owner recently punched one of his fellow Russian businessmen during a television talk show. The punch was so powerful that the man was propelled across the room and tossed to the ground.

Sergei Polonsky was once a billionaire himself, but unfortunately lost a major part of his business when the economic crisis stroke. Before the start of the show he baited Lebedev admitting he would later punch someone than discuss business with oligarchs.

"Do you want to try it out?" Polonsky said.

In a matter of seconds Lebedev took the bait and jumped to his feet. The man who owns several British newspapers among whom we name The Evening Standard and The Independent punched his compatriot three times in the face. Polonsky was pushed off his metal stool by the force of the impact and slid along the stage.

"I am in shock," a somewhat confused Polonsky admitted to the anchor of the show that was forced to intervene in the fight. The man had to hold back Lebedev before more blows could be dealt. A host of the show "Crisis: The Russian response" explained that this brawl was another sign that the economic crisis was getting worse.

"If oligarchs are fighting then it means things are not going well and the crisis a very worrying issue," said Yekaterina Gordeyeva smiling.

The 51 year old man is a former spy who managed to rise billions by trading stocks and bonds after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.