A witness at media tycoon Alexander Lebedev's trial in Moscow today claimed that the businessman he punched on a TV programme appeared to be high on drugs and had provoked him.

German Sterligov, also a guest on the talk show, said that he too became upset at Sergei Polonsky and might have hit him had Lebedev not lashed out.

Lebedev faces up to five years in jail if convicted of politically-motivated hooliganism in a trial his supporters fear has overtones of media censorship. 

Sterligov was one of the first millionaires after Communism crumbled and previously knew both Mr Lebedev and Mr Polonsky.

Asked if he was surprised construction tycoon Polonsky seemed 'high', he said: 'No - as far as I know it was quite a typical state for Polonsky.'

Questioned on what he meant by 'high', Sterligov said: 'I meant that he was under the influence of drugs.'

Asked if he was a specialist in understanding the influence of narcotics, he said: 'Sadly I had tragedies linked to moments when people went under the influence of drugs. 

'I am not an expert - but I can understand when a person is on drugs.'

Lebedev owns a Russian investigative newspaper and later bought the Independent titles and the London Evening Standard, before handing control of his UK interests to his son amid fears he could be jailed. 

His supporters suspect powerful enemies are using his attack on Polonsky to seek to have him jailed in revenge for his anti-corruption campaigns. 

They point out Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin accused him of behaving like a hooligan. 

The hearing went ahead today as previously without Polonsky, who said he could not come to court because he was in Cambodia on strict bail conditions. Bizarrely, it now appears he is relaxing by the sea in Israel. 

Sterligov told the court that on the TV show - before Lebedev threw his punch - 'there was a moment when Polonsky got very close to me, very close and sort of reached towards me with an offer to massage me'.

He stressed: 'Had he come a bit closer it would be me answering the court today, not Lebedev.'

Asked by Polonsky's lawyer if throwing punches was the right way to resolve a dispute, Sterligov - who several years ago gave up business for a time to live like a tsarist peasant - said: 'The way I was brought up, I find it the most adequate answer one man can give another man when he was offended in such way.

'I find it a very soft way of stopping another man from not going further.

'Lebedev acted as a man that stopped in as soft as possible a manner a rude and offensive person.'

On the show, there were 'moments when Polonsky was constantly throwing his arms about - and he's got long arms, so when he gesticulates his arms reached out almost to the faces of people sitting next to him. 

'At some point his arms were close to Lebedev's face. It was quite emotional.'

Judge Andrey Bakhvalov asked the witness if he was in friendly relations with Mr Lebedev. 

'No, if anything I've got a little grudge against him - but it won't influence my testimony. I have known Lebedev for some time.'

He added: 'He is quite a calm man - it is impossible for me to imagine him starting a conflict.

'Even when me and him had a conflict, he sent complaints to the police. This is his way, to always act within the legal boundaries. He is a person of a system.'

Backstage before the programme started Polonsky was saying 'how long should we stand people like Lebedev with his constant lies and tricks,' he said.

'I felt uncomfortable, I didn't like it. He was hopping around, he was interrupting people, he was running around.'

He told the judge there was no political element to the TV show or the dispute. 

The co-presenter of the show, Pavel Selin, also claimed Polonsky 'behaved provocatively'.

'Lebedev was calm enough until a certain moment and nothing predicted such behaviour,' he said.

Just before Lebedev's infamous attack - which was seen worldwide on the web - Selin said Polonsky had told him to 'shut up' while swinging his hand towards the media owner. 

Polonsky also muttered about 'wanting to punch him in the face', he said.

'I thought it was offensive,' Sterligov said. He was 'invading Lebedev's personal space'.

Seconds before striking, Lebedev asked who he wanted to strike in the face, he told the court. 

He told the judge Lebedev did not talk about politics - a key point because he is accused of hooliganism based on political hatred. 

Today was the first time Lebedev had called witnesses. 

He was accompanied yesterday in court by his wife Elena Perminova, the Siberian-born model and fashion icon.

Prosecution witnesses included people who had seen the two punches on TV. One was stopped randomly as she was getting off a bus in Moscow and asked if she would testify.

The trial was adjourned until June 21 and Mr Lebedev was permitted by the judge to travel abroad to Britain, France and Africa. 

Earlier he was banned from leaving Russia.