Sochi authorities propose creating gaming zone in Imereti Valley

The Public Council and the authorities of Sochi have expressed their intention to create a gambling zone in the Imereti Valley with the aim to attract tourists into the city and load the facilities built for the recent Winter Olympics.

Today, at a sitting of the Public Council of Sochi, its chairman Vitaly Ignatenko said that an appeal had been drafted to the Russian leadership offering to set up a gambling zone in Sochi. According to his story, it is planned to locate it the Imereti Valley, where new hotels and residential complexes had been built for the Olympics.

"After the Olympics, we have a lot of exhibition space and administrative buildings, as well as recreation areas, the maintenance of which will make a heavy burden on budgets of all levels. Such facilities can be profitably used by placing a gambling zone in Sochi," Ignatenko quoted the above appeal.

Officials of Sochi and Krasnodar Territory have supported the initiative. According to Governor Alexander Tkachov, the taxes received from the gaming zone will ensure the maintenance of the whole infrastructure built for the Games, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

See earlier reports: Sochi Mayoralty is obliged to provide Akhshtyr villagers with drinking water, experts assert, Rights defenders: in preparation for Sochi Olympics rights of over 1500 migrant workers were violated, Major contractor of Sochi Olympics goes bankrupt.