On one of the most expensive streets of Amsterdam, right next to the Vondelpark, you will find a luxurious mansion that is not inferior to the rest of the row in terms of attractiveness. However, the building at Vossiusstraat 16 catches the eye. A sign with a mouse hangs from the balcony on the first floor. The anarchist label adorns his hairy back.
It gives an indication of who is behind the imposing front door: not the ultra-wealthy Russian owner, Arkady Voloz, who bought the building in stages in 2018 and 2019 for €3.4 million, but a group of squatters. In the space Volog envisioned as a living room — the renovation was still in full swing — benefit evenings are now being held to raise money for charities.
Four residents sit on a couch in the chaotic seating area that looks out at political slogans on the walls. They look relaxed, but indicate that they are nervous. On Wednesday, the appeal that Voloz filed after losing summary judgment in November to vacate the premises. “If we lose, we’ll end up on the street,” says a boy with pink hair.
He, like the rest of the population, does not want his name in the paper. Details, such as exactly how many people live in the building, were also omitted. They fear that this will negatively affect the case. Moreover, squatting is a criminal offense.
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The fact that the squatters were nonetheless staying in the six-storey building (more than 400 square metres) for six months has everything to do with the fact that Voloz, who resides in Israel, has been on the European sanctions list since the past. summer. As a former top man at Russian search engine Yandex, which has an office in Amsterdam, according to officials in Brussels, he has been spreading Kremlin propaganda and filtering critical search results about the Ukraine war, among other things.
Voloz has since resigned from his position at Yandex, but remains on the sanctions list. All of his credits and assets have been frozen. This also applies to the house on Vossiusstraat, which is registered in the name of a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.
This property building is a tried and tested way for sanctioned people to keep their property or income out of the eyes of the authorities, says sanction attorney Helene Over de Linden. She is one of two lawyers assisting the current residents of the Vossiusstraat. “You don’t find in the land registry that there is a Russian oligarch behind this tax haven company. Only when there is a whistleblower or when journalists start rooting that information will come out.”
In this case revealed Norwegian Refugee Council And Green Amsterdam At the beginning of October, the Russians had a million-dollar property in the capital, but according to Voloz’ attorney, John Wolfs, this had been “thoroughly reported to the authorities.” For privacy reasons, the Ministry of Finance cannot confirm this.
Political action against Russia
The flyer prompted squatters to enter the premises at the end of October. The reason is twofold, as one resident explains, rolling a cigarette: “It’s impossible to find affordable housing in Amsterdam, but it’s also a political act against the war in Ukraine.”
The pink-haired boy adds that the squat is also targeting foreign investors who buy real estate in big cities, renovate it and sell it for big money. Or leave it empty for a long time, so that the value will automatically go up. “While there is a difficult housing crisis.”
Attorney Wolfs questions the political motives of the occupiers. “They stole a family home and turned it into a personal nightclub, where hardcore bands come and lots of booze is bought,” he says. According to him, local residents are “sick and tired” of squatters and report noise disturbances every week, which the police cannot confirm “in the context of privacy”.
The squatters, on the other hand, declare that they take the “neat” neighborhood into account. Their activities, which consist of lectures, workshops and discussion evenings as well as band evenings, end at 10 pm on weekdays and continue until midnight at the latest on weekends.
“illegal vacancy”
Although landlords are often successful in invoking property rights in cases against squatters, in this case it is different. As long as Voloz is on the sanctions list, as the judge explained during summary proceedings in November, he will not be allowed to occupy the building, which means an “unlawful vacancy” is threatened.
Furthermore, the extensive renovation suggested that Voloz intended to lease or sell the property, which is a violation of the sanctions rules. The mansion is divided into three separate living quarters, which are also recorded separately.
“Golden Passport”
According to his lawyer Wolves, Volog bought the building for personal use only and is allowed to use it based on European rules. The Russian has the so-called “golden passport” of Malta, and therefore he is allowed to live in the European Union. Because he is on the sanctions list, he faces an entry ban, but that does not apply to his immediate family members: his wife, six children and two grandchildren. The lawyer said they love the “vibrant and open European city with its wonderful cultural attractions”.
During Wednesday’s session, Wolves will present images that show the “antisocial behavior” of the squatters, in the form of photos and videos of loose wires, nighttime lawn fires, trash and empty bottles.
Vossiusstraat 16 is seen by squatters as a safe community, where people in need are helped. “It has become our home.”
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