'Anti-fascist' squatters take over Grade II-listed £15m mansion owned by Russian billionaire in one of Britain's most expensive streets 

  • Homelessness campaigners have taken over house in Belgravia, central London
  • Property in exclusive Eaton Square, belongs to oligarch Andrey Goncharenko
  • He bought the home in 2014, but it is thought to have been empty ever since
  • Alleged hacker Lauri Love who faces 99 years in US jail, thought to be in squat

By Alex Matthews For Mailonline

Published: 15:01 EST, 26 January 2017 | Updated: 15:02 EST, 26 January 2017

The Eaton Square property belongs to Russian oligarch Andrey Goncharenko after he bought in 2014 and it has thought to have been empty since

'Anti-fascist' squatters have taken over a £15million mansion owned by a Russian billionaire.

The homelessness campaigners have set up camp in the Grade II-listed home in the exclusive area of Belgravia, central London, for the past three days.

The Eaton Square property, one of Britain's most expensive streets, was bought by oligarch Andrey Goncharenko in 2014.

However, it has believed to have been empty since.

Now the squatters plan to open the huge house as a homeless shelter. 

Above the front door is a small banner which reads 'USA ANTI-GOVERNMENT IN EXILE' and from one of the flag poles is a black flag with the words 'Antifaschistische Aktion',  an Anti fascist network from continental Europe.

The house is one of four purchased by Goncharenko over a three year period, including Hanover Lodge, in Regent's Park, for which he paid £120 million - making it one of the UK's most expensive homes.

Goncharenko is regarded as an obscure figure even in the secretive world of oligarchs, and the source of his wealth is unclear.

He has never appeared in the Forbes Rich List and his rise to oligarch status has been as shadowy as it was labyrinthine. 

However, it is believed he made his money through property development, road haulage and forestry, and had made ‘significant profit’ in the 1990s. 

The squatters have been in the property (pictured) in Belgravia, central London, for the past three days and plan to open it as a homelessness shelter

Above the front door of the mansion is a small banner which reads 'USA ANTI-GOVERNMENT IN EXILE'

It was believed that alleged computer hacker Lauri Love, 32, who faces up to 99 years in prison if extradited to the US, was staying in the squat.

However, today, one of the group at the house said he was no longer at the property and had only been visiting yesterday.

Mr Love, who has Asperger syndrome, is accused of stealing data from US agencies including the FBI and Nasa.

He is currently preparing appeal against his extradition to the US which was signed by Home Secretary Amber Rudd in November.

It was believed that alleged computer hacker Lauri Love, 32, who faces up to 99 years in prison if extradited to the US, was staying in the squat

If convicted he faces a lengthy jail term and his family fear he will not be able to cope in the notoriously harsh American prison system.

People working near the huge mansion today said they saw some members of the group leaving this morning while others remained inside.

A doorman for a neighbouring townhouse, who wished not to be named, said a notice had been tapped to the front door by a bailiff firm.

He said: 'A little later one of them came out a side window and took the notice off and went back inside.'

Last night Mr Love and members of the group explored the huge building and music played in speakers late into the night.

The house was built around 1825 by the Grosvenor family and was up until recently the home of the Instituto Cervantes of London, the Spanish cultural centre, which has now moved to The Strand. 

 

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