In the framework of preparations for the Olympic Games the
Russian government prepared a federal target program "Development
of the City of Sochi as a Mountain-Climatic Resort (2006-2014)".
According to the program, a mass construction of sports facilities
and other infrastructure is planned in the territory of the Sochi
national park near the borders of the Caucasus state nature
biosphere reserve, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage property
since 1999. The construction will cause destruction of the unique
Alpine forest in the territories of the reserve and the national
park.
Despite the fact that the draft target program has not been
endorsed yet and it has not been approved by the state
environmental impact assessment committee, the construction of
sports facilities has already been started on the territory of the
Sochi national park, which is a gross violation of the law.
Construction and exploitation of most Olympic facilities in
Sochi are carried out by the large Russian corporations Gazprom and
Interros. They attempt to evade the law and find a full
understanding with the Sochi city administration, the authorities
of the Krasnoyarsk Krai, and the federal bodies.
Once again financial interests of large corporations contest the
Russian and international law. Such actions may once again make the
international community question the ability of Russia to fulfill
its obligations to protect the World Heritage properties, as it
already happened with Baikal. Furthermore, this can affect the
final decision about the city hosting the Olympic Games.
"We think that organization of the Olympic Games must not
result in destruction of the unique nature territories, especially
so once they are inscribed in the World Heritage List," said
Mikhail Kreindlin, Greenpeace expert. "We hope that the Russian
government and international organizations, such as UNESCO and IOC,
will also take all measures to ensure this does not happen".
For further information please contact Greenpeace expert Mikhail
Kreindlin and press officer Evgeniya Belyakova - +7 495 926
5045.