Investors in a gambling zone in southern Russia have spoken out against the authorities' plans to relocate it.
In an open letter to the federal authorities, they lashed out at their proposal to relocate Azov City from the Rostov region to the Black Sea coast.
The Kremlin banned gambling, except in four approved zones in remote areas, in July 2009.
Gleb Khor, deputy of the lower house of parliament, proposed an amendment to the ban to remove the Rostov region from the list.
The Rostov region has already earmarked millions of rubles for the construction of a road network and other infrastructure, the letter said.
Getting rid of such a high-profile investment project when it is already being implemented would worsen the investment climate in the country, it said.
The relocation of Azov City would "discredit the original idea of creating gambling zones in Russia," the letter said.
ROSTOV-ON-DON, October 11 (RIA Novosti)
