MOSCOW (AP) — Russian prosecutors have filed abuse of office charges against the former deputy head of the Russian Olympic Committee.
The move Wednesday against Akhmed Bilalov comes after he was criticized by President Vladimir Putin for delays and cost overruns in building the ski jump complex for the Sochi Olympics. The cost of the complex soared from $40 million to $265 million and was behind schedule.
Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Marina Gridneva says in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that Bilalov is accused of signing contracts in violation of legal norms, failing to protect his company assets and spending too much on foreign trips.
Bilalov previously headed a state company that operates ski resorts in the Caucasus Mountains and also led the company building the Olympic ski jump.
