 However no restoration works were performed for the most part of that period, much to the discontent of many residents of Baku.Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture explained such delay by the fact that underground waters had damaged the base of the building over time.Nevertheless, there were reports (mainly in the opposition media) that the money provided for the renovation by the government or donated by various prominent musicians (such as Mstislav Rostropovich, a Baku native) was largely misappropriated by the bureaucrats and officials who were in charge of funding the project.