09 July 2008, 16:17
Ecologists find decision to relocate Sochi Olympiad-2014 objects to be insufficient
Representatives of ecological organizations assert that the decision of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin to move a number of Olympic objects away from the Grushevoy Ridge in the Krasnodar Territory does not solve all the environmental problems of the region.
"Ecologists demand to move all the Olympic and infrastructure objects away from the Grushevoy Ridge. However, after Putin's decision they still plan to erect a biathlon route there," Valery Brinikh, co-chairman of the International Social and Ecology Union, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to Mr Brinikh, the Grushevoy Ridge also has a private construction site, an electric main and a road, which brings in a threat to the ecology of the object named "Western Caucasus". The ecologist finds Vladimir Putin's decision "to be good and timely, but incomplete, aimed mainly towards external effect."
Ecologists emphasize that the prime minister made his decision when the object "Western Caucasus" could be enlisted into the "World Heritage in Danger!" catalogue, which was the aim of Russian ecological organizations at the 32nd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held at that moment in the Canadian city of Quebec.
Author: Evgeniy Titov, CK correspondent