Pressure on Tories after sanctions put on Russian oligarch father of Lord Lebedev

The father of Russian-born peer Evgeny Lebedev, who was ennobled by Boris Johnson, has been sanctioned by Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree which authorised an asset freeze on Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB intelligence officer.

The development will prove embarrassing for Downing Street given his son’s much publicised links to the Tory party.

Britain has sanctioned 1,604 individuals over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has steered clear of hitting either of the Lebedevs.

The revelation that Alexander has been singled out by Kyiv for undermining its sovereignty will heap pressure on ministers to change course.

Evgeny, who was made a life peer in 2020 and sits as a cross-bencher, owns the Evening Standard newspaper and The Independent website.

He has held British citizenship since 2010 and has condemned Vladimir Putin’s war, insisting he has “no links to the Kremlin”.

The Cabinet Office has previously told Parliament that he is “a man of good standing”.

Alexander worked in the Russian intelligence services until 1992 and owns several assets in Russian occupied Crimea including a hotel.

Last year he was sanctioned by Canada alongside 13 other oligarchs which the country accused of facilitating the “senseless” invasion of Ukraine.

The decision by Ukraine to sanction him was made in October last year and was first reported by the Tortoise website on Thursday.

News of the move will put the spotlight once again on the relationship between Mr Johnson, the former prime minister, and both of the Lebedevs.

In April 2018 whilst foreign secretary he spent a weekend at the Italian villa of Alexander after dispensing with his usual security detail.

Following questions about the nature of the visit he told MPs that it was a personal trip and no government business was discussed “as far as I am aware”.