Putin's Palace on the Black Sea

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is constructing a $ 1 billion castle in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The photographs were published by Ruleaks, a group of self-proclaimed “activists from the Pirate Party of Russia and Russian-speaking activists from other Pirate Parties around the world. Ruleaks underwent a DDoS attack shortly after the photographs went live on January 18, making it temporarily impossible to access the website. The organization stipulates that it cannot confirm that the residence belongs to Vladimir Putin. Photographs show a gigantic Italian-style villa, complete with colonnades, balconies, and an enclosed park with a fountain. The interior is extravagantly decorated with frescoes, elaborate chandeliers and a wealth of marble and gold trim. The palace appears to be fully furnished and includes a desk bearing the Russian coat of arms; it is identical to the desk in the prime minister’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence.