A CONVICTED Russian criminal has been squatting with his family ‘for years’ on an luxurious Costa Blanca urbanisation.

Cuatro TV’s ‘En Boca de Todos’ programme described the unnamed man as an oligarch who spent time in prisons across Europe and has been tracked by Interpol.

He is living in Altea Hills- a favourite location in Spain for wealthy Russians.

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Cuatro claims he has paid nothing towards the property for a decade and has a debt of over €17,000 in community fees alone.

He did own the home years ago until a bank seized it, but he and his family remained.

The new owner allegedly offered the Russian €75,000 to move on, but nothing happened.

Incredibly, the property was then sold with the squatter laying down some new departure terms.

He demanded an advance payment of €50,000 and after his eventual exit, an additional €20,000 more.

A man called Mario- a representative of the current owner- told Cuatro that no money has been handed over because he believes the squatter would not leave.

The rightful owner has also received death threats.

“He threatened the family, he knows where the owner lives… In the end he is a little scared and so am I,” said Mario.

He said he did not know the nature of the crimes that the Russian had been sentenced and incarcerated for.

Cuatro also ran audio of the squatter’s son where he said: “An Interpol group from Madrid has come for my father and have been here for a month watching.”

“My father has been in 10 prisons in Europe, I mean, he’s not just any person, okay? He’s not a guy who… My father is very stubborn.”

Spain’s laws on evictions has changed recently with ‘speedy trials’ being introduced.

When Cuatro was at the scene, the Guardia Civil were there and there was confirmation that legal action to execute an eviction was being taken

A KEBAB shop owner has been arrested by the Policia Nacional for allegedly exploiting illegal migrants.

The 41-year-old man originally from Pakistan had a store in Biar(Alicante) with his main outlet in Yecla(Murcia).

The businessman employed people from his country- two of whom were minors aged 17 and 15 years- who were illegally in Spain and therefore vulnerable to exploitation.

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The workers were not registered with social security and had no job contracts.

They endured long hours but got paid nothing, though in lieu of a salary they were given somewhere to sleep and were fed

The Policia Nacional got involved after a former employee blew the whistle on what was going on.

He said the shop owner seized all of his identity papers and personal effects when he started working for him.

A series of inspections were carried out which verified that most of his staff were not registered with Spanish authorities or did not have a work permit.

The businessman has been charged with infringing workers’ rights and rights of foreign nationals.

Seven others have been arrested including a Moroccan for forging documents.

The rest were detained for breaking immigration laws.

The Policia Nacional said investigations are still continuing.

A MAN died on Wednesday while paragliding in Alicante province.

The 30-year-old suffered the fatal accident in the El Sabinar valley- part of the Sant Vicent del Raspeig municipality.

Emergency services were notified about the incident at 5.40pm.

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The area where the man was found was difficult to access due to its terrain.

Two helicopters-including one from the provincial fire service- were sent to the scene in case the man needed a quick transfer to hospital.

Paramedics from the SAMU ambulance team were unable to resuscitate the victim.

No further details have been revealed about the man, including his nationality, or the circumstances behind the accident.