Biarritz: the three activists arrested after invading the villa of Poutine’s ex-son-in-law “did not think they were breaking the law”

Three men were released after being taken into police custody on Monday for breaking into a villa in Biarritz belonging to the former son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which they unfurled the Ukrainian flag. They wanted to prepare it to welcome Ukrainian refugees.

They published almost immediately on social networks the photos of their visit and, above all, of their main feat of arms: having waved a Ukrainian flag from the balcony of this sumptuous building in Biarritz belonging to Kirill Chamalov, the former son-in-law of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Monday March 14, three people were arrested and taken into police custody after breaking into a villa on the Basque coast, the Bayonne prosecution confirmed to Release. An investigation has been opened for “home invasion”, specifies the prosecution. ‘They didn’t think they were breaking the law’assures Vladimir Osechkin, president of the association New Dissidents Foundation created in 2021 by Russian political refugees gathered in the south-west of France. “The three of them thought that this house was under sanctions against Russia and that the owner no longer had a right to it”explains the manager, who says to himself “very shaken by this case”. Their objective was very clear: “Visiting the places and preparing them to be able to welcome Ukrainian refugees».

Welcoming Ukrainian refugees

The three people were released on Monday evening with a simple reminder of the law, said one of their lawyers to Release. Among them was Pierre Haffner, a former figure of the yellow vests in the Basque Country, an activist close to dissident Russian circles. At his side were two Russian political refugees, Slavik Krivonosenko and Sergei Savelyev. The latter is vice-president of the New Dissidents Foundation and documents, like Vladimir Osechkin, the torture inflicted in the prisons of their native country. In a video posted on their YouTube channel, Sergei Savelyev is filmed exploring the “Alta Mira” villa, a Napoleon III light blue facade, built into the side of a cliff. “Their wish was to assess the needs for cleaning, bedding, reception capacities, to be able to accommodate Ukrainians”, details Vladimir Osechkin, who claims that they were preparing a letter to inform the mayor of Biarritz of their project at the time of their arrest. Pierre Haffner posted a similar video, since deleted from his YouTube channel, captioned “victory at Biarritz, capture of Poutine’s palace” Where “the People’s House is ready to welcome refugees from the Putin regime”. “This house was bought with money stolen by Putin, by his mafia, from the Russian people and from the peoples oppressed by Putin’s Russia”he commented.

Me Kamalia Mehtiyeva, lawyer at the Paris bar and associate professor of law, who represents Pierre Haffner, puts forward a simple “incomprehension”. “A lot of confusion surrounds these real estate penalties. It is common to believe that a seized property no longer belongs to anyone, and therefore that it can be used by others.. For Vladimir Osechkin, there remains “essential”, “that the Russian villas in France are really seized and can be mobilized for humanitarian purposes”. And to insist: “what they wanted to do is right”.

Update March 15 at 9:30 a.m.: the three people placed in police custody on Monday were released in the evening and received a simple reminder of the law, said one of their lawyers.