Moscow City Hall spent 784 million rubles ($15 million) on an ice-skating rink in one of the Russian capital's parks, news website Gazeta.ru reported Tuesday.
The rink, in the All-Russia Exhibition Center in northern Moscow, will break even within two to three years, the head of the center's management company told Gazeta, adding that within the venue's 10-year planned lifespan City Hall ought to be able to earn a tidy buck.
He may be right — a crowd of 150,000 skaters formed huge queues outside the rink when it opened on Nov. 29.
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.
