Russian Region Construction Minister Ordered to Camp in Unfinished Building

By The Moscow Times

Oct. 7, 2015

To pressure the local housing authority into resolving a backlog of construction delays, the head of Russia's Komi republic has ordered his senior construction official to set up camp in an unfinished residential building, independent Ekho Moskvy radio reported Wednesday.

The Komi republic's acting governor Sergei Gaplikov told a regional deputy construction minister, Nikolai Soroka, to grab a camping cot and stay in an unfinished building until he delivers on a resettlement project to provide emergency housing, the report said.

At a meeting with local officials, Gaplikov criticized the local construction authorities for having fallen behind schedule on the 2.5 billion ruble ($39.6 million) housing program, for which Soroka is responsible, Ekho Moskvy reported.

Soroka is to live and work in an unfinished building in the industrial town of Ukhta, where delays in implementing the housing program have been particularly severe, local KomiInform news portal reported Tuesday.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

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 you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue