In 2012 Sergei Kolesnikov, a former business associate of Putin's, told the BBC's Newsnight programme that he had been ordered by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin to oversee the building of the palace.
I 2012 fortalte Sergei Kolesnikov, en af Putins tidligere forretningsforbindelser, i et BBC Newsnight program, at han var blevet bestilt af vicepremierminister Igor Setjin til at føre tilsyn med bygningen af det.