Arctic mayor pushes for brothel

Vorkuta's economy still depends on its coal mines

By the BBC's Ray Furlong in Moscow

The Russian town of Vorkuta is a remote mining settlement, battered by freezing Arctic temperatures, on the site of a former Gulag - an uninviting prospect.

But the mayor, Igor Shpektor, has put his town at the centre of national attention, with television and newspapers reporting his plan for Russia's first legal brothel, and possibly the world's first one north of the Arctic circle.

If nothing else, the mayor has drawn attention to his town

Some tantalising details have come to light: as all workers in Russia's frozen north, the prostitutes would have rights to state pay subsidies, free Black Sea holidays and 46 days' paid leave a year.

The mayor has been quoted as voicing the view that the brothel would help cure his town's economic woes, and that "it's difficult to find decent women on the streets".

But speaking to the BBC, Mr Shpektor complained that he was being misrepresented.

Vorkuta

Population : 90,100

Founded in 1930

Name translates from Nenets language as "teeming with bears"

Has two theatres

He wanted to be progressive, he said, battling HIV and other problems through legalisation of the sex industry.

Of course, euphemistically named sex clubs are a common sight around Russia, but prostitution is not officially their line of business.

As yet, Mr Shpektor says he is still looking for investors.

He may then need some kind of approval from regional authorities.