Tourists ignore bathing ban on Kaspiysk beaches

The beaches of the city of Kaspiysk are full of vacationers, despite the ban by “Rospotrebnadzor” (Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) on bathing in these places, local residents have informed. Authorities must resolve the issue of wastewater discharge into the sea if they want to develop tourism in Dagestan, a local journalist has stated.

On June 11, the Dagestani Branch of the “Rospotrebnadzor” in its website informed about the ban on bathing at sea in the beach areas of Kaspiysk and Makhachkala starting from June 9, having posted the corresponding resolution of the republic’s chief sanitary doctor. The reason for this decision was the bacterial contamination of sea water in the beach areas.

The ban story on bathing in the Caspian Sea on beaches of Dagestani cities and districts has been going on for decades, Albert Esedov, a Dagestani journalist, has commented on the situation. "Every year, before the start of the bathing season, the ‘Rospotrebnadzor’ conducts scheduled measurements, according to which a verdict is traditionally issued on bathing ban. Because of the growth of urban population and the absence of a full-fledged sewage system, when untreated waste water is discharged directly into the sea, it is no wonder that such bathing bans persist,” Mr Esedov told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Meanwhile, the journalist is surprised when the “Rospotrebnadzor”, which prohibits bathing on some beaches, on others located nearby, according to the study results, asserts that the sea water meets the hygienic requirements.

“If we really expect to develop the tourist direction, first of all, we need to resolve the issue with the sewer collector,” Albert Esedov has summed up.

Almost no one knows about the ban; and people are practically not interested in these warnings

There are currently many tourists in Kaspiysk; and the bathing ban in the sea does not stop them, Patimat Guseinova, the head of the local human rights public organization “Kaspiysk is our city”, told the “Caucasian Knot”.

Indira, a resident of Kaspiysk, has confirmed to the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that there are currently many vacationers on city beaches, including tourists. “Mostly tourists are bathing. Almost no one knows about the ban; and people are practically not interested in these warnings,” she said.

Amir from Kaspiysk told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that he and his family prefer not to relax on city beaches. “We know that both here and in Makhachkala the water fails to meet the hygienic standards,” the man said.

“A lot of tourists bathe on beaches in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk; the beaches are full of them. Local residents, who have the opportunity, prefer to go further away, to the Kayakent District, to Izberbash. The rest have to bathe on the city beaches; and what should we do?" Zubairu, a resident of Kaspiysk, has asked.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 13, 2025 at 01:52 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.