Russia Issues Search Warrant For Allegedly Corrupted Sochi Games Official

The Russian Interior Ministry said that it is preparing a search warrant for the former deputy head of a construction company "suspected in funds embezzlement during works on Winter Olympics venues in Sochi," according to XINHUA. The ministry's press service said, "The ministry's Investigative Department is preparing to issue federal and international search warrant for Akhmed Bilalov." Bilalov "used to be a deputy director of the Krasnaya Polyana company in charge of construction of skiing sport infrastructure in the Black Sea resort of Sochi," where the Winter Olympics will take place in February. Investigators said that Bilalov "inflicted damage to the project" of more than 45M rubles ($1.37M) (XINHUA, 7/16).