Downhill skiing season started in Elbrus area after a long outage

The cable cars of Elbrus area (Kabardino-Balkaria) are completely ready to receive tourists. This was reported by Head of Administration of Elbrus district Aslan Malkarov.

“Round-the-clock safeguard of the cable cars is established. The hotels, cafes and Azau and Cheget glades are under video surveillance. Works on equipping all the tourist objects with video cameras are going on and will be accomplished by the end of the month”, Malkarov said at a meeting with journalists on December, 18.

It should be reminded that after establishing the regime of counter-terrorist operation (CTO) on February, 20, in connection with an act of terror in “Azau – Stary Krugosvet” cableway and assault at downhill skiers from Moscow, Elbrus area was closed for tourists. During this period the tourist industry of the region bore considerable losses. CTO regime was canceled on November, 5.

A new police department was created in Elbrus district and a standby police unit was opened in the settlement of Terskol. Besides, “Sarmat” private security firm which has acquired a reputation in security services market is now taking part in guarding law and order, Head of the district said.

In spite of the fact that strengthened guard will demand additional financing from the businessmen of Elbrus district, they are ready to bear these expenses without pushing up prices on the tours. The prices in Elbrus district will remain on the last year's level and will not even be influenced by inflation, entrepreneur Takhir Sozaev said.

Answering the journalists’ questions on criminogenic situation in Elbrus district Public prosecutor Arthur Bagov said that law enforcement bodies were taking all possible measures to reduce the number of crimes to a minimum. “We certainly need support from local residents who in their turn realize that they will be able to live here only in peace”.

Head of the district Aslan Malkarov also informed that a decision was taken at a session of regional Anti-terrorist Committee to provide the tourists with phone contacts of the Administration and law enforcement bodies. “Any request from them will be considered most carefully”, Malkarov promised.

As of today, 1,5 thousand peoples are staying in local sanatoriums and camping sites which is only 15% of the health resort’s capacity.