Olympic Games for Russian Security Services

The committee asked that all possible measures be taken and that “assistance be provided in the introduction of competition structures,” so as to leave areas already protected against construction untouched.  Already on November 3 Mr. Zhukov distributed this new policy to the appropriate ministries and departments – the MID, MVD, FSB, and so on, with a request that they present their proposals.

It is evident, that such uneasiness and efficiency of high officials on the Olympic Committee and in the government is connected with the wave of protests against the destruction of unique territories in Sochi National Park and the Caucuses Nature Reserve in the process of constructing the Olympic complex.  Ecologists have a good chance of successfully appealing in court the unlawful approval of a Federal Target Program, “Development of Sochi as a Mountain Resort (2006-2014)” (FTP), which practically settled on the barbaric construction without question as to the environmental consequences.  In addition to this, European Green Parties have already added their voices to the protests.  At their congress this fall they agreed upon a disparaging resolution aimed at the Russian government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Already next year the IOC should make their decision on the site of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.  One of the criteria for election, adherence to the Olympic Charter, includes maintenance of environmental protection conditions during preparation for, and hosting of the games.  Naturally, the mass statements of citizens and social organizations, and the straight reversals in the IOC cannot help but have an impact on the decision of the Olympic Committee.  Current information indicates that the IOC already imparted to Russia, that if the protests against the construction of the Olympic site don’t stop, the likelihood of Sochi’s victory in the Olympic race will sharply decline.

Sochi’s loss in the contest of candidate-cities would, for Russian Olympic officials and the businessmen connected with them, reveal quite clearly their pronounced financial characters – with a loss of 191 billion rubles ($7.35 million).  According to the FTP, the financing of the Olympic site would decrease by exactly this sum in the case that another host city is chosen.  There is a purpose for which to fight along with ecologists, and for that matter with the forces of the MVD and FSB.

But to take lawful measures against world-wide protest from environmental organizations is impossible.  Article 31 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation clearly states, “Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to peacefully assemble, without arms, to conduct gatherings, meetings, demonstrations, processions, and vigils.”  This means that yet again high-ranking Olympic directors are asking that the government and “competitive bodies” violate the Russian Constitution in pursuit of their commercial interests.

And so you see that the government can easily solve the problem of the protests from environmental organizations – it is necessary only to recognize the inadmissibility of constructing the Olympic site in the most valuable parts of Sochi National Park.  A good start would be to avert construction on the border of Caucuses Biosphere Nature Reserve, which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.