Post date: May 30, 2013 2:3:39 PM
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov releases a report claiming that some 25 billion dollars have been stolen from preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 30, 2013) (REUTERS) - Russian opposition leaders on Thursday (May 30) released a report detailing what they say saw about 25 billion dollars stolen during preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
"The main conclusion from the first chapter of our report is that, in preparing for the Olympics, 25 to 30 billion dollars were stolen," Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov told journalists in Moscow.The title of the report, written by Nemtsov and Leonid Martynyuk, is 'An Independent Expert Report on the Winter Olympics in the Subtropics'.
"The expenses for the Winter Olympics in Sochi turned out to be more than all expenses for all the sports structures from all the Winter Olympics put together," Nemtsov said, detailing his findings with graphs on an overhead slideshow.
Among points detailed in the report were notes that many of the most expensive structures built for the Games were commissioned without competition or tenders.
Nemtsov said he would be submitting requests for investigation to Russia's Investigative Committee.
"Clearing up whether this 26 or 25 billion extra money was stolen or not stolen from the state budget is very difficult - this is a job for an investigation," Nemtsov said.
Russia has said that the cost of staging the Games will reach $50 billion - almost five times more than the original price tag, putting Sochi on track to become the most expensive Olympic Games to date.
Putin has also warned officials against allowing corruption to push costs even higher.
For Putin, the Olympics is a prestige project that will put Russia at centre stage during his third presidential term, which began in May. He will want to ensure international criticism over environmental management and the rights of displaced homeowners do not tarnish the Games.
New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch has said migrant workers being employed in the Olympics building boom were being cheated out of wages and denied adequate rest, food and housing.