Sochi is not ready for resort season, locals assert

The noisy opening of the resort season says nothing about the city's preparedness for the arrival of tourists, said local residents questioned by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The opening ceremony took place on May 17 in Sochi – concerts, festivities and other entertainment events lasted till late at night.

According to the policemen, who were on duty at the festivities, only in the Tsentralny District of Sochi about 50,000 people took part in public events.

"The start of the resort season in Sochi was disrupted by unreasoned actions of officials and businessmen close to them, who failed to provide favourable conditions for launching the season and attracting tourists. On the contrary, the Olympics and the actions of various officials have frightened off tourists," said Natalia Kalinovskaya, the chair of the Self-Government Comradeship (known as TOS) "Psou".

"It would be better for Sochi authorities to care on ecology, clean sea and air, than hold mass events and marches and distract residents and guests of the resort city from serious environmental problems," said Grigory Uchkurov, adding that Evgeny Vitishko is serving his sentence "for attempts to improve the environment of the Krasnodar Territory."