oris Johnson met with ex-KGB officer Alexander Lebedev after the Salisbury poisoning scandal was pre-arranged or there were discussions about government affairs.
The Prime Minister said officials knew in advance that he was attending an event at the home of the Russian oligarch’s son, Yevgeny Lebedevin Italy.
But Mr Johnson, then Secretary of State, added that it would have been “not normal practice” for officials or security personnel to accompany him to a “private, social occasion”.
He also noted that he did not bring any ministerial papers, adding, “As far as I know, no government affairs were discussed.”
His comments came in a letter to the Commons Liaison Committee extending his earlier admission that he met Alexander Lebedev in 2018 with no officials present.
Johnson is under increasing pressure to explain the nature of the meeting, which took place right after a NATO summit on how to respond to the Kremlin, and whether it was properly disclosed.
The inquiry also comes amid an investigation by the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee into the House of Lords appointment of Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the London Evening Standard and a shareholder of The Independent.
The appointment has been shrouded in controversy after The Sunday Times’ alleged security services retracted an assessment that the peerage posed a national security risk after the prime minister intervened.
Johnson said: “In April 2018, I attended a social event at Evgeny Lebedev’s home in Italy.
“In the interest of transparency, I have indicated the overnight stay in the ministerial declarations which can be found on gov.uk.
“At this social event, I also met Evgeny Lebedev’s father.
“This was not a formal meeting, nor something prearranged.
“Officials knew in advance that I was attending the social event.
Contrary to some reports, my visit was in accordance with established security protocols under successive foreign secretaries.
“It would not have been normal for officials or security personnel to accompany me to such a private, social occasion.
“I did not bring any ministerial papers.
“If a minister meets with an outside organization or person and finds himself discussing official matters without an official present, for example at a social occasion, any important content should be returned to the department after the event.
“That was not necessary in this case.
“As far as I know, no government matters have been discussed.
“At the time, Lebedevs’ company owned the Evening Standard and the Independent, and the television company London Live.
“The ownership of and participation in the British newspaper publishing industry was not disputed.”
Johnson used the remainder of his written response to defend his response to the Salisbury poisonings and to highlight the actions against Russia.
He added “historical returns” to 2016 from Labour over their meetings with senior media executives “significant shadow cabinet involvement with Evgeny Lebedev and attendance at his social events”.