Lebedev Peer slates Russophobia and says he is not a risk to UK security

Evgeny Lebedev, the son of a former KGB agent who was given a peerage by Boris Johnson, has insisted he is not a “security risk”, as the UK slapped sanctions on hundreds of Russian politicians for being complicit in the invasion of Ukraine.

- Aubrey Allegretti

After fresh concerns were raised over the scrutiny process behind Lebedev’s appointment, the media magnate issued a statement through the newspaper he owns, which dismissed the “farcical” speculation as Russ ophobic.

Lebedev said some of the “incredible questions” posed to him by journalists were “absurd” and denied being an “agent of Russia”. He also condemned the invasion of Ukraine and called on President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops.

“At the moment many with Russian roots are under scrutiny, including myself,” Lebedev wrote.

“I understand the reason for this as it is inevitable when events of such magnitude occur and the world order as we have known it in recent decades suddenly gets torn up.”

The prime minister was this week forced to deny he intervened to secure a peerage for Lebedev after intelligence services warned it would be a security risk, following reports in the Guardian and Sunday Times.