Putin abolishes Rostov part of Azov-City

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has abolished the Rostov part of the Azov-City gambling zone, RIA Novosti reports, with reference to the website of the government.

On July 1, 2009, Russia adopted a federal law banning the activities of casinos in the country, except for casinos in specially-designated zones: in the Primorye, Altay and Kaliningrad regions, as well as on the border of Krasnodar Territory and the Rostov Region.

However, in the middle of the year the government proposed to move the Kuban gambling zone from the shore of the Azov Sea, where it had been located on the free territory of the Black Sea coast of Russia, for "increasing economic efficiency".

The authorities of the Rostov region opposed the decision.

In early November, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a federal law that excluded the Rostov region from the list of regions in which gaming zones are allowed to be located.