Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday he resolved a labor strike at the building site of Russia's $3 billion new spaceport in the Far East that has been plagued by corruption allegations and construction delays.
Twenty-six workers began a hunger strike on Friday, joining over 100 laborers protesting delayed wage payments since last month, newspaper Vedomosti reported.
Rogozin, who took personal control of the cosmodrome project in September, wrote via Twitter on Monday: “The workers have confirmed to me that they are prepared to stay on site. Their working and living conditions will be improved. I am double-checking everything.”
Construction contractor Spetsstroy owes over 14 million rubles in unpaid wages, Vedomosti reported citing the Prosecutor General's Office. Several Spetsstroy officials have been arrested on corruption charges over the past year.
Federal Space Agency chief Igor Komarov said last week that the project is as much as 120 days behind schedule — jeopardizing President Vladimir Putin's target for a first launch in December.
It is unclear how worker strikes at the cosmodrome have impeded construction efforts.
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.
