Squatters take over Russian ologarch’s mansion in London to protest Ukraine war

Riot police today entered a central London mansion belonging to one of the Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the British government after it was taken over by a group of squatters in protest at the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The London Metropolitan Police (Met) issued a statement in which it reported that agents maintain contact with four squatters “who are sitting on the balcony (of the property), taking into account both the need to impose the law and the need to ensure the safety of all those involved” in the incident.

The occupants of the luxurious property hung Ukrainian flags and banners with messages such as “This property has been released”on the outside of the building, located in the exclusive Plaza de Belgraviaclose to several foreign embassies, while encouraging citizens to join their protest.

According to local media, it is believed that the seven-bedroom house, located in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the British capital, belongs to the tycoon Oleg Deripaskaclose ally of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Apparently, the squatters have no intention of settling indefinitely or sleeping on the property and the occupation is intended to serve as an act of rejection against the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine.

“With the occupation of this mansion, we want to show solidarity with the Ukrainians, but also with the Russians who have never agreed to this madness.”say the squatters, who define themselves as anarchists, in a statement.

As reported by Sky News, two of the squatters tried to set up a barricade to block the entrance of two agents who accessed the balcony through a neighboring building.

The squatters, according to the media, shared a drink from the same glass while one sang a song from the soundtrack of the movie “Dirty Dancing”, “I’ve had the time of my life”.

Deripaska, founder of metals and hydropower company EN+, has been the target of US sanctions since 2018 as a result of his close relationship with Putin.

The occupied home, which has a movie theater, a gym and a Turkish sauna, was purchased through Ravello Limited, an offshore company from the Virgin Islands, according to the media.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) requested the freezing of the assets of five bank accounts in the name of the oligarch in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.

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