Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin approved...

Putin demanded on Monday that the government prevent a further rise in spending on infrastructure projects and ordered the dismissal of the officials responsible for mounting expenses.

Referring to large-scale state construction projects in connection with the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2012 APEC summit in Vladivostok, Putin said that prices and costs should decline and budget expenditure should be reduced.

Russian Regional Development Minister Viktor Basargin proposed the dismissal of Kruglik on Monday.

Putin also expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that while salaries, supplies and energy prices are lower in Russia than in western Europe, construction costs are often higher.

Kruglik had served as the deputy regional development minister since October 2007.

MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti)