You're reading: Russian businessman Lebedev denies funding Ukrainian opposition

MOSCOW - Russian businessman Alexander Lebedev spoke positively of Ukraine's recent parliamentary election and rejected media accusations of funding local parties in a letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

“I congratulate you on the recent elections. I am certain that
despite some critical remarks in the media, these elections were
sufficiently open, democratic and fair, adequately reflecting the range
of the Ukrainian voters’ views,” Lebedev said in his letter, a copy of
which was received by Interfax on Friday.

“I was surprised to learn that “Ukrainian political scientists”,
speaking through the media, went as far as accusing me of interference
in your state’s domestic affairs,” he said.

“They said at a press conference in Kyiv that I allegedly gave money
to the Svoboda opposition party and that my goal was “economic
expansion”, which is why I “was buying up land in the Kyiv region”,”
Lebedev said.

The Russian businessman rejected these claims, adding that his
so-called “economic expansion” in Ukraine “was restricted only to the
construction of Crimea’s largest resort and recreation center from
scratch.”

Lebedev asked Yanukovych for help, adding that he did not have any
business in Ukraine today and was spending all money earned on Ukrainian
territory on charitable programs.

“I am awaiting a trial in Russia today on charges of hooliganism,
which, by the way, was motivated by “political hatred” toward an
unfamiliar person – developer P. I would like to ask you, if it is
possible, to tell the Ukrainian culture minister to give an assessment
of the results of my work in Ukraine. Obviously, assessments received
from so-called “demonstrators” are unlikely to help me during the trial,
but [these assessments] will evidently be presented,” he said.