Page:2020-07-29 PSI Staff Report - The Art Industry and U.S. Policies that Undermine Sanctions.pdf/31

 Rotenberg. Gazprom Burenie subsequently became Gazprom's main drilling contractor and is currently one of the largest drilling contractors in Russia. Gazprom Burenie's operations focus on oil and gas wells construction, including drilling, geological exploration, well construction, well overhaul, and inactive well recovery services.

The Russian government awarded Gazprom Burenie and SGM several high-profile projects in Russia. For example, it contracted with SGM to build portions of the $12 billion Nord Stream undersea gas pipeline; the Russian government paid the Arkady Rotenberg-controlled company a profit margin of 30 percent for its work on the project. The Russian government also awarded SGM a contract to build a 110-mile gas pipeline around the Russian city of Sochi, as part of the Russian government's 2014 Winter Olympics construction program. The gas pipeline cost five times its original budget. One estimate stated that 15 percent of the total Olympics budget went to Rotenberg-led projects. In defending his personal relationship with President Putin, Arkady Rotenberg has argued "unlike a lot of other people, I don't have the right to make a mistake." He has also asserted, "I have great respect for Putin and I consider him sent to our country from God."

Gazprom Burenie has also played an important role in the Russian energy industry. Between 1997 and 2013, Gazprom Burenie completed the construction of 3,669 wells, drilling through more than 7 million meters of rock.

In January 2015, the Russian government announced that Arkady Rotenberg, through SGM, would build the bridge connecting the Russian-annexed