70 thousand sign antismoking charter in Sochi

In Sochi more than 70 thousand resident and visitors of the city signed the charter "Sochi without smoking", which was adopted at the resort by the authorities' decision in January 2010, said Nina Suslonova, the head of the health department of the city administration, today during a video bridge Sochi - Moscow "Fight against smoking: freedom from tobacco smoke".

According to the charter, parks, squares, beaches, schools, hospitls and cultural institutions are declared to be "areas free from smoking". Places, where smoking is banned according to the charter, are marked by special signs.

Ms Suslonova explains that the main legal framework in fighting against smoking in Sochi is the regional program "Healthy Kuban", which is effective from July 1, 2010.

"Under this charter we conduct extensive public events, practically every day we carry out inspections, including medical ones, of crowded places, such as airport, parks, railway station, and beaches," said Ms Suslonova.

Soso Meboniya, the chief emergency doctor and Sochi City Assembly deputy, expressed the opinion that, in addition to sanctions on punishing those who smoke in public places, encouraging of non-smokers would be an effective measure, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The ban on smoking in public places in the Krasnodar Territory came into force on July 1, 2011, the "Argumenty.Ru" reports.