By Will Stewart PUBLISHED: 12:03 EST, 25 June 2013 | UPDATED: 12:03 EST, 25 June 2013 Politics? Russian media tycoon Alexander Lebedev, whose prosecution was signed off by a former classmate of President Vladimir Putin The controversial criminal prosecution of newspaper owner Alexander Lebedev was started by a former university classmate of Vladimir Putin, it was claimed at the newspaper owner's trial. A document in the case file records shows that the probe was demanded by Alexander Bastrykin, chairman of the powerful Investigative Committee, known as the Russian FBI, said a Lebedev lawyer. The media magnate is accused of the draconian offence of hooliganism motivated by 'political hatred' in lashing out at property mogul Sergei Polonsky during a heated TV debate.
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Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin studied with the Russian leader at Leningrad State University
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Lebedev is accused of hooliganism motivated by 'political hatred' in lashing out at property mogul Sergei Polonsky
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Analysts say the case raises issues of press freedom amid claims the state is trying to gag a newspaper proprietor
The court file refers to 'an order' from Bastrykin 'to investigate the circumstances of @placeholder being beaten' during the television show.