MOSCOW — Russia's top investigative agency says it has filed criminal charges against a Russian tycoon whose holdings include a newspaper critical of the Kremlin.
The State Investigative Committee said Wednesday that it charged Alexander Lebedev with hooliganism and assault over a TV shown incident in which he punched another businessman.
Alexander Lebedev, whose net worth was reported by Forbes magazine to be $1.1 billion, made his money in the banking industry and owns a stake in Russian flag carrier Aeroflot as well as his own Red Wings airline.
He has financed Novaya Gazeta, which is fiercely critical of the Kremlin, and two British newspapers — the Independent and the Evening Standard.
Lebedev said last month that he was forced to sell his assets because of pressure by the Russian security agency.