MOSCOW, July 6 (UPI) -- The State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, approved plans Monday to build a bridge from the Russian mainland to Crimea as part of $4 billion project.
The bill has simplified permit and licensing procedures for companies involved in the project, which will be managed by Stroigazmontazh (SGM), The Moscow Times reported. The company is owned by Arkady Rotenberg, a personal friend of President Vladimir Putin. The bill is headed toward the upper house, the Federation Council, for approval before going to the president to sign into law.