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Greenpeace Addresses President of International Olympic Committee

October 11, 2006

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Caucasus Reserve

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Russian Federation — International – 9 October 2006. Amsterdam. Greenpeace International asked the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Jacques Rogge to demand the Russian government to fulfill its international obligations to protect the World Heritage properties.

The appeal was made to draw attention to violations of Russian laws and international agreements during preparations for the Olympic Games 2014 that might take place in the city of Sochi. Construction of Olympics facilities threatens to destroy unique nature landscapes of Western Caucasus.

The Russian government, Russian Olympic Committee, and large industrial companies attempt to get Olympics facilities constructed in the territory of the Sochi National Park (including its protected area) where economic activity is banned. This also refers to the Caucasus reserve inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The government is committing direct violations of the law. On June 8 the Russian government illegally skipped the state environmental impact assessment and endorsed the federal target program “Development of the City of Sochi as a Mountain Climate Resort in 2006-2014”. At present Greenpeace Russia is contesting the endorsement of this program in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

The state environmental impact assessment of changes in zoning the Sochi national park was held by Rosprirodnadzor with considerable violations of the procedure. The status of territories assigned for construction of sports facilities was changed from protected areas to recreational ones.

The first stage of construction of the mountain ski complex “Karusel” has been already completed in the park.

The responsible agencies attempt to adapt the law to interests of the parties involved in the project’s implementation. The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade developed draft changes to the law “On Protected Nature Areas” and the Land Code of the Russian Federation. If they are approved, sports facilities will be allowed for construction in national parks.

The Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia developed the draft governmental regulation which will allow constructing the resort buildings and facilities in protected territories, including those on the border of the Caucasus reserve.

According to the Olympic Charter, the International Olympic Committee is obliged to carry out its activities in compliance with the requirements of the environmental protection during organization of the Olympic Games.

Greenpeace calls on the IOC to take all possible steps in order to prevent destruction of unique nature landscapes as a result of the “race” to win the right to house the Olympics 2014.