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Activists seize former Stasi building in Berlin-Lichtenberg to protest Senate budget cuts

Berlin police have confirmed the occupation with officers assessing the situation on site

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Die ehemalige Stasi-Hauptzentrale in der Rusche- und in der Normannenstraße in Lichtenberg.
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Overview

  • On May 31 activists occupied a vacant former Stasi canteen and adjacent prefabricated buildings in Ruschestraße, Berlin-Lichtenberg, to protest budget cuts by the Berlin Senate.
  • They target Senate plans to demolish the canteen for a new office building despite more than 1.5 million square meters of empty office space in Berlin.
  • Activists accuse the property owner of speculation and neglecting 15 years of community appeals for social, cultural and memorial uses of the site.
  • Berlin police have confirmed the presence of occupants on the premises and are conducting an ongoing assessment of the situation.
  • The group outlined plans to transform the space into a neighborhood café, repair workshop and meeting points for local residents.