Greenpeace, Russia

 

One of the picket signs on October 26, 2006 at the MERT building in defense of the unique natural environs of the Caucuses

 

Russian Federation — On October 31 the Application Committee of the Winter Games in Sochi 2014 appealed to Russian Deputy Prime Minister A. D. Zhukov with a request to investigate the current situation regarding wide-spread public interest in the future locations of Olympic sites around Sochi, which were opened to development especially for the Games.

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.

Greenpeace Addresses President of International Olympic Committee

October 11, 2006

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.

http://www.greenpeace.org/russia/en/news/greenpeace-addresses-president