Sochi residents criticize landscaping of Tsvetnoy Boulevard

On January 22, tenants of houses located near Tsvetnoy Boulevard in Sochi found that about 0.03 hectares of greenery was covered with concrete and a healthy half-century-old plane tree was felled. They treated the actions as "barbarism" and "crime". The heads of the administrations of the Tsentralny District and the self-government (known as TOS) "Gagarinsky" objected by saying that the boulevard is under upgrading (landscaping).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2014 residents of houses located near Tsvetnoy Boulevard complained about the build-up of the green zone. Besides, residents of seven multi-apartment houses in the neighbourhood "Gagarinsky" in Sochi complained about the unsanitary conditions because of the spontaneous "flea market" in the boulevard.

Andrei Tereschenko, the head of the Tsentralny District Administration of Sochi, could not explain why the works were carried out at night and without the consent of local residents.

The destruction of green areas is unacceptable, said Alexander Zyuzin a member of the Environmental Council under the City Mayor. According to his story, each such arbitrary action should be dealt with by the prosecutor's office.

Vladimir Ostapuk, the head of the Sochi Public Ecological Council, is of the same opinion. According to his version, "recently the green are in Sochi has dropped from 15 square meters per capita down to 2-3 square meters, which is less than in industrial cities."

He added that he had repeatedly notifying prosecutors of the Krasnodar Territory about the irresponsible attitude to green areas in Sochi.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.