President Vladimir Putin warned construction companies in the 2014 Olympic city of Sochi against inflating prices and lagging behind schedule.
Less than a week after he was sworn in as president, Putin on Friday went to the Black Sea resort to inspect sites for the Winter Games and chide construction companies.
The firms are responsible for the bills they submitted to the government years ago and should not inflate prices in the final months of building, said Putin, who played a key role in Sochi's bid to host the Olympics and has personally overseen most of the preparations. The construction budget for the Olympics' infrastructure is about $6.5 billion, with more than half coming from private funding.
(AP)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
