NEW YORK. March 11. Russia has the largest number of billionaires among the European countries, Forbes magazine has said, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

According to the Forbes' annual list of word's richest people published on Wednesday, the number of billionaires in Russia has risen to 62 from 32 last year.

The list of Russian billionaires widened due to 28 returnees who had fallen off last year's list amid a meltdown in commodities, Forbes said.

Over 2008, a total of 55 rich Russians were excluded from the prestigious list due to the economic crisis.

Vladimir Lisin, the owner of the Russian steel giant Novolipetsk Steel, is Russia's richest person with a fortune of $15.8 billion, according to Forbes. The tycoon occupies the 32nd position in the magazine's list of world's richest people.

Mikhail Prokhorov, the president of Onexim Group who topped last year's rankings, is second in the 2010 list of richest Russians with an estimated wealth of $13.4 billion. TNK-BP interim CEO Mikhail Fridman is Russia's third richest person, with a $12.7- billion wealth.

Deputy Chief of Forbes' Global Wealth Group Luisa Kroll told RIA Novosti she was surprised with the result of the Forbes' research, which showed representatives of the Russian business elite successfully fighting the consequences of the global recession, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.