In Sochi, workers cut down about 50 trees for construction of "Olympic" road

This morning, workers began massive cutting down of rare tree along Gorky Street, half a kilometre away from the crossing of Titov and Constitution Streets, down to the Sochi River. This was reported by residents of the residential district "Zavokzalny." The workers state that they are clearing space for the construction of the alternate road.

"I always drove along Gorky Street, and yesterday, I saw a whole grove of pine trees, plane trees, palms, and magnolias pride of the resort and today, I see only stubs. And no one cares about that. I phoned the "hot line" of the City Mayor, and officials referred to the Olympic construction. However, someone should control the number of destroyed trees and causes for their cutting down," says Elena Pavlova, an eyewitness of destruction of the trees.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent went to the place and counted more than fifty felled trees. The workers have explained that they have a permit for cutting down of trees and that at the place of the park area and felled trees the second stage of the Olympic alternate road will be constructed. According to the workers, they received instructions to cut down trees from their bosses. However, the workers did not specify the names and positions of their bosses. The workers also could not explain where the felled trees were brought.

Officials from the forest and park administration refer to the permission, issued one year ago by Igor Shakhov, the former head of the forest and park administration, who does not longer work at the institution.