Russian hooliganism trial of media tycoon Alexander Lebedev hears host of glowing testimonials from A-list celebrities including Keira Knightley and Elton John Stars wrote character references for Alexander Lebedev Keira Knightley called him a 'great ambassador for Russia' Elton John wrote that he is a 'kind and thoughtful person, a man of integrity' Hugh Grant said the incident was an 'uncharacteristic accident' He is accused of hooliganism after he hit Sergei Polonsky during a TV show The court descended into a light-hearted debate on Knightley's performance as Anna Karenina A Russian judge today accepted a host of A-list celebrity testimonials supporting media tycoon Alexander Lebedev as he battles to avoid up to five years in jail. His criminal trial at one point turned into a light-hearted debate between lawyers on the merits of Keira Knightley's performance as tragic Russian character Anna Karenina. This followed the 28 year old actress's written testimonial, read to the court, in which she said: 'I respect Alexander Lebedev's charitable work both in the UK and abroad,' praising him for funding the fight against cancer. Alexander Lebedev outside the court in Moscow. He was given a series of character references from celebrities Lebedev said that he thought Polonsky was attacking him and said that what he did was block his arm in an unprofessional way 'I consider Alexander and his family to be great ambassadors for Russia,' she said. Lebedev's counsel, Genri Reznik, told the court: 'The Western Anna Karenina is the best interpretation of this novel.' For once he met no serious opposition from the prosecution which is expected to demand a jail sentence for Lebedev. The newspaper owner - whose family control several British newspapers - is accused of the draconian offence of hooliganism motivated by 'political hatred' in physically attacking property mogul Sergei Polonsky during a TV chat show on a Moscow channel. Many suspect the case itself has political undertones and it was revealed in court last week that the order to prosecute came from Alexander Bastykin, head of Russia's powerful Investigative Committee, a university classmate of strongman president Vladimir Putin. The judge overruled objections by Polonsky's lawyers to accept the Western showbiz praise for Lebedev, who today denied he made serious contact with Polonsky when he lashed out at him during a heated debate. A tribute from Sir Elton John stated: 'I have known Alexander Lebedev for 15 years. He is a decent, generous, kind and thoughtful person and a man of integrity. The court descended into a light-hearted debate about Keira Knightley's performance as Anna Karenina Sting and his wife Trudie (left) are proud to support Lebedev, and Elton John (right) wrote a statement praising his character Hugh Grant believes that it was an 'uncharacteristic accident' (left) and Kevin Spacey said it would be unfair to jail him (right) The singer described Lebedev as his 'good friend' who had been 'very supportive' of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Kevin Spacey said he had known Mr Lebedev for a decade, stressing 'it would be unfair to jail him for such a minor accident'. Sting and his actress wife Trudie Styler told the judge in a written submission: 'We are proud to show our support for Alexander Lebedev at this undoubtedly difficult time for all his friends and family.' The couple stressed: 'It is with a strong sense of fairness and duty that we would like to offer a character reference.' The tycoon is a 'highly principled and decent family man who is devoted to his wife and children'. Actor Hugh Grant told how he had known former KGB spy Mr Lebedev for ten years, stressing he was deeply concerned for the ex-KGB spy's future because of 'such an uncharacteristic accident'. Another testimonial came from his KGB station chief in London when Lebedev was a Soviet spy in Britain. Lebedev tried to his Polonsky while on a Russian TV chat show in Moscow Lebedev said that he felt like he was 'in danger of Sergei Polonsky hitting him 'I was his boss then,' said General Yury Kobaladze, declining to say what secrets they culled in the final years of the Cold War. He was forwarded to work in the embassy in London where he was employed undercover. Due to his knowledge and personal characteristics, he perfectly joined the group of our "rezidents." Lebedev is on record as saying many intelligence reports he sent back to Moscow were based on his reading of the London Evening Standard, a newspaper he later bought, and which is now owned by his son Evgeny. In evidence to the court on Thursday, Lebedev said he had asked to leave the TV show before it started because of offensive comments from Polonsky in the dressing room, but was persuaded to stay. Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev is accused of hooliganism motivated by 'political hatred' 'I did not say anything to Polonsky in the dressing room when he was using rude language talking to women,' he said. Later on the show, Polonsky said he wanted 'to hit someone in the face', said Lebedev. I understood it was addressed to me. I think all men in this court room during their lives came across street hooligans who said something like this, and in this situation you need to think about self defence quickly. I felt I was in danger. I stood up aiming to calm down the excited man next to me. 'I used the words - 'hey, lad, old man' - these were friendly words you would normally use to calm somebody down. Then I sat down and thought the incident was over. But Polonsky then stretched out his arm appearing to accuse Lebedev at the same time of discrediting one of his major building projects in Moscow. 'I quickly thought it was an attack on me, I instinctively stopped him blocking his arm and did it in very unprofessional way,' said Lebedev who said his foe's behaviour 'was on the edge of aggression during all through the show'. He stressed: 'I saw his arm moving towards me, I used only my side sight, and that day I did not have on my strongest glasses. I think his arm was some 20-30 centimetres away from my face, in a second it would have reached my face. Remember that I did not look right at Polonsky, I always tried to turn away from him and look at the audience in the studio. Lebedev hit out twice, but he denied the punches hurt Polonsky. They barely touched him even though the mogul - who is absent from the trial evidently hiding in Israel from separate legal action in Russia - instinctively pulled backwards, causing his chair to fall off the podium. There were no marks on his face. It means I did not really hit him,' said Lebedev. The trial resumes tomorrow and a verdict is expected by the middle of next week.