20 Masked Attackers Storm Soros Institute (Soros on war path)

Moscow Times ^ | Monday, Nov. 17, 2003. | Denis Maternovsky

[RussianConservative]

About 20 masked men carrying clubs swooped down on the disputed headquarters of George Soros' Open Society Institute on Friday night in an attack that injured 10, including the building's owner.

The raid was a failed attempt to retake the building and organized by the Open Society Institute's lawyers in New York, a source close to the institute said Sunday.

Institute employees were kicked out of their headquarters Nov. 6 when a group of about 50 gunmen acting on orders from building owner Kantemir Karamzin seized the building in a rent dispute.

A security camera recording aired on NTV television Saturday showed a group of men in black scaling the fence around the building on 8 Ozerkovskaya Naberezhnaya the night before and running toward the security office.

The Soros source said lawyers at Open Society's main headquarters in New York had orchestrated the attack behind the backs of both Soros and the Open Society Institute Russia in an effort to force Karamzin to cede the building "the hard way."

"Open Society's employees were asked to come to the offices on Friday night. We were told that court marshals would show up and force Karamzin to vacate the building and that we could make a list of missing personal belongings on the spot," the source said.

"We waited until half past 10 like complete fools and no one came. And then, when the attack started, we were called by lawyers and told to get out of there."

Yekaterina Geniyeva, the president of Open Society Institute Russia, said Sunday that she had spoken with Soros the day before and his feelings about the latest raid were "extremely negative."

"I do not know who sanctioned this attack," she said by telephone. "It came as a complete shock to me. The only thing I can tell you is that it wasn't us and it wasn't George Soros."

Open Society Institute Russia's lawyer, Pavel Kuzmin, said the chances that the rent dispute could be resolved "in a civilized manner" have now been lost. "It looks like mafia infighting now. This is no different from what Karamzin's people did to us," he said.

"It is impossible to say what will happen next. Karamzin has already hinted that he will retaliate."

Karamzin told NTV that he was sure that the Soros foundation was behind Friday night's attack.

Karamzin said he and five of his employees suffered minor injuries, while four others were briefly hospitalized with injuries including a broken nose and a concussion.

The long-running dispute stems from a 1999 agreement under which Open Society gets to rent the building for $10,500 per month for 10 years. Open Society says it has spent $2.5 million renovating the building.

Karamzin says the building is worth $100,000 per month and Open Society owes several million dollars in back rent and unpaid utility bills.

A Moscow court upheld the 1999 agreement earlier this year.

[July 4th]

The Open Society is apparently closed.

[katykelly]

znif

[Pro-Bush]

I guess Russia doesn't want philanthropists supporting democracy in Russia, or Eastern Eorope for that matter.

[MEG33]

Soros is investing 10 million to defeat Bush.

[Pro-Bush]

Really, didn't know that. Is he a commi?

[TheAngryClam]

"About 20 masked men carrying clubs..."

"...when a group of about 50 gunmen..."

Rule # 1 of a gunfight- have a gun.

[Travis McGee]

I would guess that Soros himself travels only in private jets, armored limosines, and that he employs near-Presidential levels of security.

If he doesn't, he should, but I hope he doesn't.

[MEG33]

A Democrat that escaped Hungary and dabbles in politics all over the world.He hates Bush..thinks he is the worst President ever,compares "you're either for us or against us" to Hitler slogans.He made his money and now uses it to influence our elections.

[RussianConservative]

Philanthropist who give monies to Communists? Are you sure you on correct board?

[RussianConservative]

You miss couple things...he Jew who rob other Jews by helping Nazies in Hungary, then gets out before Soviet forces arrive to liberate Budhepest. He also hate Putin and vow to remove him...and I believe Burlisconi too.

[squidly]

Wow, he hates a lot of people.

[MEG33]

Oh,but they do.They just call themselves Progressives instead of communists.They lead our anti war marches.The communists are here,still trying to get that utopia done right.

[RussianConservative]

Oh, he anti religion and pro abortion, amongst other good philanthropist things.

[RussianConservative]

Break some societies to make perfect socialism...with devil..er..Soros as top.

[MEG33]

He's a real sweetheart..I hope he goes broke trying to make the world over his way.He said he'd spend his fortune if Bush's defeat is guaranteed.(of course there are no guarantees!)

[John Locke]

To be precise: George Soros was a "courier" for the Jewish Council, the Nazi collaborationist body that oversaw the deportation of the Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz. The couriers were typically young Jews who delivered messages to prominent community members ordering them to present themselves at a specific place and time.

Here is an example, actually carried by young George, and reproduced in his father's - Tivadar Soros' - book Maskerado:

"SUMMONS

You are requested to report tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock at the Rabbinical Seminary in Rokk Szilard Street. Please bring with you a blanket and food for two days."

Those who obeyed would "disappear".

[MEG33]

I was listening to the Beltway Boys who said comparing Bush to Hitler or communists(he's done that,too)is insane.Said Soros is on an ego trip.

[Pro-Bush]

I thought he was a good guy, thank you for keep me honest. I was not aware of this guys history beyond that my thinking that he pushed democracy in the former Soviet Republic. I was ill-informed, nothing more.

[MEG33]

That's one great thing about the internet..I learn something new every day and Google is like having a huge reference library.