“It signifies in the most visible way the connection between Crimea and Russia, that Crimea is part of Russia, connected to it by a solid bridge — that is as symbolic as it gets,” Ms. Schulmann said. By some reckoning, the Kerch bridge would be exceptional if it did not end in the welter of embezzlement scandals that plague most megaprojects. The bridge has sucked up a significant portion of the budget for road and bridge construction throughout Russia, experts said, despite an official denial. By contrast, the Scythians around the upper reaches of the Black Sea avoided building roads to help keep enemies out. Hence the Kerch bridge is a departure.

Source: New York Times November 11, 2017 15:25 UTC