The result would become one of the world’s biggest economic development boondoggles in recent history. Despite high hopes and splashy beginnings, with interest from some of the most respected people and institutions in tech, the project was mired in corruption and fell into a tailspin. The war with Ukraine only appears to be hastening its demise.
Sam Klebanov, whose family owns the Petropol bookstore in Newton, Massachusetts, left Russia at the age of 6 and is disgusted by President Vladimir Putin's.