Owner enters Lidingö building linked to Russian intelligence

The Russian occupants have left a high-rise building on Lidingö, and its owner has entered it for the first time in 12 years, SVT reports. The building was linked to Russian intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover.

Stefan Häge, whose company owns the property, told SVT it felt unusual to be inside after years of looking in from outside. “We have fought for this for a long time,” he said.

SVT reported in 2023 that the building had been used by Russian intelligence officers identified as working under diplomatic cover. When Häge visited, the corridors and rooms were empty.

The dispute over the so-called “Russian house” dates back decades. In the 1990s, the Russian state took over assets in Russia belonging to German businessman Franz Sedelmayer. He sued Russia and sought to have its assets abroad seized. The Lidingö building was among them.

Sedelmayer won, and the property was sold at an enforcement auction in 2014 to Häge’s company. Since then, Häge has received no rent and has been unable to enter the building.