Valery Suchkov: 30,000 Sochi residents cannot insure their property against natural disasters

In Sochi, the authorities offer residents to insure their property against emergencies similar to the storm that passed through the city.

On September 27, Anatoly Pakhomov, Sochi Mayor, delivered speech on air and offered Sochi residents to insure their properties to get compensations in the event of unforeseen emergencies.

However, the local residents report that insurance companies refuse to insure old and dilapidated houses, which are home to tens of thousands of people.

"We and our neighbours are constantly affected by flooding. This year, after the storm, water was waist-deep. Officials advised us to insure our properties against natural disasters. However, it is not possible in case of our houses. Insurance companies insure only new houses," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Marina Djarmakyan, a resident of Teplichnaya Street of the village of Razdolnoe.

"In Sochi, more than 30,000 families live in old and dilapidated houses. These people cannot insure their properties against natural disasters even if they want to, since no insurance company will do that. And they will also not receive compensations from the city administration, since officials send them to go to insurance companies. It is a kind of vicious circle," the "Caucasian Knot" was told by Valery Suchkov, a member of the Public Urban Council of Sochi.