The number 303 stood Wednesday on a digital clock on Manezh Square that counts down the days to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and President Vladimir Putin is watching it closely as the government races to make the final preparations for the Games.
"Putin will avoid making big moves before or after Sochi," Belkovsky said.
The completion of the Games may free up some money for other state projects, but the government already has an array of expensive budget items.
One thing that could change following the Games is people's expectations of the government, which Belkovsky said he anticipates will go up given the scale and prominence of the event.
If the government does decide to initiate major changes after the Olympics, the window may be small. Just four years later, in 2018 — the year of the next scheduled presidential election — 11 Russian cities will host the matches of the FIFA World Cup.
