An ecologist campaigning against the construction of Olympic facilities on the grounds of Sochi National Park has won his lawsuit.
Valery Brinikh, co-chairman of the International Social and Ecological Union, proved the illegality of the Natural Resources Ministry’s order to change the borders of Sochi National Park, reports RBC Daily. Experts say the ruling calls into question the possibility of 2014 Winter Olympic Games being held in Sochi.
Last October the Natural Resources Ministry signed an order “amending the regulations on the Sochi National Park federal state organization” stripping some areas of its reserve status. On January 26 the government approved plans to build social infrastructure facilities in 16 sections of the Krasnopolyanskoye forest district, part of Sochi National Park.
Sports facilities are to be constructed in those areas for the Sochi 2014 Games but ecologists waged a campaign against turning the reserve into an Olympic venue. A lawsuit by Brinikh was rejected but on October 22 the Maikop City Court upheld the case. Brinikh proved the illegality of the changes on the zoning of Sochi National Park.
The ruling reportedly will affect the construction of an Olympic village on Grushevy Ridge, which is to be financed by private investment.
BDO Unicon Consulting, a partner and official consultant of Sochi 2014, told RBC Daily that the bid book was prepared in strict compliance with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) environmental standards. Igor Orlov, senior manager, said “our plans for sporting facilities respect all environmental requirements, otherwise our bid could not have won”. He said the court ruling’s coming into effect would mean a delay of at least several months in implementing the Olympic project.
The government is expected to defend the case.
