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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRussian Leader: We Have Spycams in Sochi Hotel Showers
Friday, 07 Feb 2014 10:20 AM
By Melanie Batley
After a barrage of complaints on social media from foreign journalists documenting farcical hotel conditions at the Sochi Winter Olympics, a top Russian official hit back, saying Western visitors are deliberately trying to sabotage Russia's image, and he has the footage from shower spycams to prove it.
"We have surveillance video from the hotels that shows people turn on the shower, direct the nozzle at the wall, and then leave the room for the whole day," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak told The Wall Street Journal.
For days journalists at the games have complained of incomplete construction, inadequate plumbing, dysfunctional toilets, hotel rooms without doorknobs, and suspiciously colored tap water.
In response to criticisms of the substandard accommodation conditions, Kozak said, "We've put 100,000 guests in rooms and only gotten 103 registered complains and every one of those is being taken care of."
A spokesman for Kozak later told the Journal that the official misspoke, and there were no surveillance cameras inside hotel bathrooms.
http://www.newsmax.com/newswidget/olympics-sochi-shower-cameras/2014/02/07/id/551487?promo_code=12289-1&utm_source=12289Raw_Story&utm_medium=nmwidget&utm_campaign=widgetphase1
Reported on a lot of sources including:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/russia-journalists-sochi-hotels-sying_n_4739400.html
Cirque du So-What
(25,932 posts)I take this 'revelation' with a grain of salt - and not even a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila would help.
marble falls
(57,080 posts)Russia Says It Knows Journalists Are Overhyping Sochi Hotel Problems Because It's Spying On Them
The Huffington Post | by Jack Mirkinson
Posted: 02/06/2014 1:08 pm EST Updated: 02/07/2014 1:59 pm EST
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/russia-journalists-sochi-hotels-sying_n_4739400.html
marble falls
(57,080 posts)Spycams in Sochi Hotel Showers
The spy who scrubbed me: Russian official lets slip that Sochi hotels have hidden surveillance cameras in the SHOWERS
Deputy prime minister: I have seen video from inside cubicles
Dmitry Kozak claimed the footage showed journalists sabotaging facilities
The chief of Olympic preparations had tried to down play criticism of venue
Officials quickly try to backtrack and issue hasty denial
By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 07:06 EST, 7 February 2014 | UPDATED: 07:37 EST, 7 February 2014
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2553837/The-spy-scrubbed-Russian-official-lets-slip-Sochi-hotels-hidden-surveillance-cameras-SHOWERS.html
TheMathieu
(456 posts)Taking principled stances against egregious violations of privacy is important, no matter where it's occurring.