Construction of "Cherkessk-Sukhumi" Highway across the reserve is illegal, ecologists say

As reported by activists of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus", the construction of the Inter-Regional Highway "Cherkessk-Sukhumi" across the territory of the Teberda State Biosphere Reserve is illegal and could cause irreparable harm to the ecosystem of Northern Caucasus.

"The idea of this highway has been lobbied for several years by the leaders of Karachay-Cherkessia and Abkhazia. This project was also supported by Vladimir Putin, and after him - by Alexander Khloponin and the Chairman of the Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin. All these top officials, who voice their support to the Highway 'Cherkessk-Sukhumi' 'have forgotten' about such 'trifle' that its construction is, in principle, illegal, as the old Military-Sukhumi Road goes across the Teberda Natural Reserve," said Andrei Rudomakha, coordinator of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus".

According to his story, the reconstruction of the Military-Sukhumi Road in the territory of the Teberda Reserve may cause irreparable damage to the biological diversity and unique ecosystems of Northern Caucasus, especially in the mountainous part of the reserve, which has the area of approximately 85,000 hectares.

To prevent the construction, back on July 30 the "Ecological Watch" sent several letters to the officials: President of Karachay-Cherkessia Boris Ebzeev, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Yuri Trutnev and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexander Khloponin.

In his turn, Murat Khartsizov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of Karachay-Cherkessia, who is overseeing the project, said that there was no reason to worry, since the construction of the inter-regional highway will be undertaken in accordance with the Russian legislation and environmental requirements.

According to the official, today there are three options for construction of the "Cherkessk-Sukhumi" Highway, including those, under which the road will pass outside the reserves and other protected areas. To select the proper alternative, the Russian Ministry of Regional Development will send experts to Karachay-Cherkessia, who will examine all the possibilities.

"The construction of the 'Cherkessk-Sukhumi' Highway will remove the infrastructure constraints for development of tourism and recreation, for the industrial potential of the region; it will ensure the best possible use of its transit potential, which will result in significant improvement of the welfare of the local population," said the governmental official.

However, many experts in Russia and Abkhazia are rather sceptical about the need for construction, in particular, Beslan Butba, an Abkhaz businessman and former MP of Abkhazia.

Some Russian experts also stick to this opinion and believe that the project is economically unprofitable, because Abkhazia is a "dead end" from the transport viewpoint.

The project to rebuild the Military Sukhumi Road caused also negative reaction from the Georgian party. Thus, Kote Kuchukhidze, a member of the Abkhaz government in exile, said it was "another attempt to occupy the territory of Georgia by Russia."