MOSCOW, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian...
The Investigation Committee of the Russian Prosecutor General"s Office said on Monday that Kurortproyekt, contracted to draw up plans for the reconstruction, had been paid three times for the same work, receiving a total of 500 million rubles (over $16 million).
The federal Audit Chamber said the contractor had been paid a total of 1.6 billion rubles ($51.9 million) under additional agreements during reconstruction efforts, which were launched in 2005 and initially due to finish in 2008.
Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, who has repeatedly expressed alarm over reconstruction schedule delays, said on Monday that there was cause for serious concern over misspending in the project.
The theater, built in 1825, will now not reopen at least until 2011.
Kurortproyekt refused to comment on the accusations, saying questions should be addressed to the customer, the state Directorate for Construction, Reconstruction and Renovation.