The property department explained the closure of the Amnesty International office due to the expiration of the lease term

The capital's property department said Amnesty International's Moscow office was sealed because the lease on the premises had expired. This was reported on November 2 by Dozhd.

As stated in the response to the request received by the publication, the department’s employees “carried out measures to replace the locking devices and install technical security equipment on the premises. City property <…> is free from contractual relations, the presence of any third parties in it is illegal.” According to the depot property, the lease agreement expired in January 2008, after which, in the absence of objections from the city authorities, it was extended, provided that one of the parties has the right to refuse it, warning the other three months in advance.

“In connection with a significant violation of the conditions for paying rent,” the organizations sent a notice that it must pay off the debt in a month, and otherwise, after three months, the contract will be considered terminated. However, as stated in the message of the department, the claim was ignored, in connection with which an entry on the termination of the contract was made in the Unified State Register of Rights to Real Estate and Transactions with It. For the export of property, the organization must send an official appeal to the department within two weeks, the department clarifies.

in the morning Amnesty International spokesman Ivan Kondratenko said that the organization had not received any notifications and had no rent debts.