Squatters occupy Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska’s London mansion
Squatters have occupied a mansion belonging to the Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska in central London in the early hours of Monday.
The five squatters in the building in Belgrave Square – two from eastern Europe, though not from Ukraine – say they feel their countries are also under threat from Vladimir Putin. Their plan is to open up the mansion, which they say “has too many rooms to count” including a cinema and a wine cellar, to Ukrainians fleeing the war, along with other refugees needing shelter.
In a message to Russian oligarchs the squatters said: “You occupy Ukraine, we occupy you.”
A significant police presence barred entry to the cream-coloured stone building with a black front door and pillars at the entrance.
This part of London has been nicknamed “oligarchs’ quarter” because so many wealthy Russians have bought properties here, just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.
Deripaska is an aluminium magnate. He has called on Putin to make peace with Ukraine.
The squatters also criticised UK banks and parts of the establishment that they say have allowed oligarchs to launder their billions in London.
They declined to say how they got into Deripaska’s property just after 1am on Monday but said “it required climbing skills” and “squatters’ magic”.
“This is not ordinary squatting, this is property liberation,” one of the squatters said. “The money from these oligarchs is funding Russia’s war against Ukraine.”
In a statement sent to the Guardian, the squatters said the invasion of Ukraine was the latest in a long line of human rights abuses by Putin’s government including the bombing of Syria and mistreatment of LGBT people.
“This mansion will serve as a centre for refugee support for Ukrainians and people of all nations
Read more on theguardian.com
