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Putin Bemoans Continued Corruption at Space Base

Associated Press

   MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin is complaining to his cabinet
   that widescale corruption at Russia's new space launch facility is
   continuing.

   The facility in the Far East, named Vostochny, is intended to reduce
   Russia's reliance on the Baikonur launchpads in Kazakhstan, from which
   all manned space missions and many other major rockets set off. But
   construction of Vostochny has been plagued by corruption.

   "It's been said 100 times: Work transparently, large amounts of money
   are allocated. ... No, they're stealing hundreds of millions," Putin
   exclaimed with irritation at the Monday cabinet meeting.

   Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that about 11
   billion rubles ($169 million) has been embezzled during Vostochny's
   construction.

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