Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, an early supporter of a controversial project to build St Petersburg’s first glass skyscraper, is now expected to scrap it because of mounting opposition at home and abroad.
The 403m tower, intended to house offices of state-run gas giant Gazprom, has caused an outcry among St Petersburg residents, Russian opposition parties and the UN cultural agency UNESCO.
Putin has said he supports the US$3 billion project in his hometown as it would help the economy of the former imperial capital and revive a neglected corner of the city — but that a decision lies with the city authorities.
Opponents say the tower would ruin the unique skyline of the city. State media and some officials have begun to express doubts after years of support.
UNESCO has warned Russia it could exclude St Petersburg from its list of world heritage sites if the tower is built, as it would dominate the canals and baroque houses of the city founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703.
“It is very likely that it will be Putin who will draw a line under the project,” said Maxim Reznik, leader of opposition party Yabloko in St Petersburg, who is suing the city administration in court in an effort to get the project dropped.
Putin’s approval ratings fell this month for the first time since the start of the economic crisis and aides reacted with a campaign to improve his image.
“Putin has always been against imposing his opinion on citizens and those in the city who take architectural decisions,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He declined to say whether Putin could scrap a project already approved by the office of St Petersburg’s mayor.
Three years ago Putin ordered a key oil pipeline to be rerouted after protests by ecologists who said it could endanger Lake Baikal and its rare species.
Putin stepped down as president last year but remains Russia’s most powerful politician, and most Russians believe he will run for president again in 2012.”
Some officials have expressed concern about the project.
“Russia’s Regions Ministry believes that it is not reasonable to place a 400m building in direct proximity to world heritage cultural sites,” the ministry said last week.
Russian Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev said last month he was skeptical about the tower.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said chief executive Alexei Miller, a close Putin ally, was aware the debate was heating up.
“We are continuing all work and there has been no order to back off,” he said.
Maxim Shevchenko, a popular presenter on the main state TV channel ORT, conducted a fierce anti-Gazprom debate on ORT last week, contrasting sharply with the usual image of Gazprom as Russia’s most important firm.
“By showing such stubbornness, Miller has managed to turn a simple construction and architectural issue into almost a political issue,” Shevchenko said. “If Miller takes the issue so personally, I guess there is only one authority for him — Putin.”
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