A Volgograd lawmaker with the Communist Party has accused the local governor of misallocating 14 million rubles ($457,000) earmarked to promote the region at the Sochi economic forum in August.
The governor, Anatoly Brovko, told the regional legislature last Friday that the region spent no money for its presentation, which was instead financed by businesses working in Volgograd, including LUKoil and TNK-BP, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper reported Thursday.
But the lawmaker, Mikhail Tarantsov, noted that the governor had signed an order in August that allotted the money for the presentation, the report said.
Brovko did not comment on the discrepancy. Tarantsov said he is considering filing a complaint with the Prosecutor General’s Office.
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.