Russia's president has not taken any decision on scrapping the government's cultural watchdog, which opposes the construction of a 403-meter skyscraper in historic St. Petersburg's city center, a Kremlin source said on Wednesday.
Business daily Kommersant reported earlier on Wednesday that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had ordered Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev to prepare a bill to transfer Rosokhrankultura's functions to the Culture Ministry.
The government said that while the issue had been discussed, no decision had yet been taken.
Kommersant said the move could only be finalized by President Dmitry Medvedev, but the Kremlin source said the issue had not even been discussed in the presidential administration.
Rosokhrankultura, which was established within the Culture Ministry in 2004, is the only state body devoted to the ensuring the observance of cultural heritage protection laws.
Local residents and public activists are outraged by the plans by Russian energy giant Gazprom to build the Okhta Business Center. Downtown St. Petersburg is a UNESCO world heritage site and many believe the construction will distort the city's low skyline.
Opponents of the construction say local authorities are turning a blind eye to the city's planning restrictions for buildings over 100 meters tall and dismissing Russia's commitment to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
But despite criticism from President Dmitry Medvedev and the Constitutional Court, Gazprom is unlikely to compromise, experts say.
Earlier this month, St. Petersburg City Court upheld the ruling of a district court giving the green light for the construction of the skyscraper in the city's historic city center.
Protesters say they will appeal to the Presidium of the City Court, but the odds are against them.
MOSCOW, August 18 (RIA Novosti)
