Four arrested over squatting protest at Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska's mansion

ITV News London reporter Martin Stew spoke directly to the protesters.

Four people have been arrested following a protest on the balcony of Russian oligarch’s Oleg Deripaska's London mansion.

The Metropolitan Police said a group had come down after around 17 hours before being arrested on suspicion of squatting in a residential building.

Protesters broke into the property in Belgrave Square at around 1am on Monday and declared that it “belongs to Ukrainian refugees”.

Mr Deripaska, an industrialist who has had close links with the British political establishment, was targeted with sanctions by the Government last week.

Four men, who initially told reporters there were five of them, were pictured sitting on the edge of the balcony, surrounded by police both inside and outside the building, for more than an hour earlier on Monday.

The Metropolitan Police said the four arrested were stopped by police near the property at around 6.30pm on Monday.

The force's spokesperson said in an update late Monday evening: “The four have been arrested under section 144 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. A police presence will continue at the scene.

“Police were called shortly after 1am on Monday March 14 to a residential property in Belgrave Square. It was reported that a number of people had gained entry to the building and hung banners from upstairs windows.

“Officers completed a search of the property and are satisfied there are no people left inside.” Four others have been arrested on suspicion of trespassing after trying to breach the cordon.”

The Met spokesperson continued: “During the evening of March 14 four people were arrested after they attempted to gain access to the row of buildings where the protest was ongoing in Belgrave Square.

"They have been arrested under section 9 of the Criminal Law Act 1977. All those arrested remain in custody.”

The street had been cordoned off with at least 10 police vehicles and at least 32 officers visible on the scene earlier.

The Met said that the number of officers was part of a “flexible and proportionate response”.

Officers wearing harnesses first tried to deploy a ladder to access the balcony but after the protesters sat in the way to obstruct them, a JCB crane was moved in to lift them up instead.

Police wearing riot gear also used a drill to break open the front door and enter the house.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: “Officers have completed a search of the property in Belgrave Square and are satisfied there are no protesters inside.

“We continue to engage with those on the balcony as we balance the need for enforcement with the safety of all involved.”

One of the protesters, who refused to give his name said earlier: “All our group made peace with arrest because this was always one of the options.

“I’m ready to take the consequences for something I believe.”

He also said they had done “everything by the book” and they had left “no criminal damage” in the property.

The man said that although he did not know what reason the police would have to arrest or charge him he “would like to go to court and prove my point”.

“This house could house 200 people. We have been doing a job the Government should do. We have liberated the property for refugees,” he added.

Describing the house, he said: “It is massive. I got lost I don’t know how many times.

“There are so many unnecessary rooms, there is a cinema, lots of expensive paintings. No one deserves all this.”

Asked how they got into the property, he joked: “Squatters’ magic with some climbing skills.”

The protesters call themselves the London Mahknovists – after Nestor Makhno, who led an anarchist force that attempted to form a stateless society in Ukraine during the Russian Revolution of 1917-1923.

They hung a Ukrainian flag as well as two signs which read “this property has been liberated”.

They also danced, played music and one man sang lines from the Dirty Dancing song (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.

“We stay here until Putin stops the war,” one man said to reporters.

He continued: “We have opened the building to house Ukrainian refugees and refugees from all nations.”

The group said the UK Government had “failed” to properly respond to the invasion. The group also criticised the police, comparing them to those arresting protesters in Russia.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “surprised” that police intervened, adding that he was likely to bring up the way officers responded with the Metropolitan Police hierarchy after saying it was “unclear what the police were responding to”.

The Labour politician said he did not “condone” the actions taken by the protesters but questioned whether the police move against them had been “proportionate”.

Mr Deripaska has been described as “a prominent Russian businessman and pro-Kremlin oligarch”, who is “closely associated” with both the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin.

His wealth is estimated to be £2.3 billion and he has a multimillion-pound property portfolio in the UK which, according to a 2007 High Court judgment, includes the house at 5 Belgrave Square.

Records indicate it has not changed hands since and is owned by an offshore British Virgin Islands company.