Sochi GamesRussia imposes strict security measures on the Sochi region
In preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russian authorities have been increasing security measures to discourage Islamist militants who have threatened to disrupt the games with “all means that Allah allows.” More than 70,000 soldiers and police officers will guard the Olympic facilities and the sprawling city of Sochi. In addition, Russia will be using SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities) to monitor every mobile telephone call, e-mail, SMS, and Internet chats originating from or going into the Sochi region during the Games.
Russian security "Ring of Steel" around Sochi may be ineffective // Source: nhatbao.net
In preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russian authorities have been increasing security measures to discourage Islamist militants who have threatened to disrupt the games with “all means that Allah allows.”
Government Technologyreports that more than 60,000 uniformed officials have been called to provide security during the games. The Sochi Olympic Games are considered the most expensive Winter Games of all time, with a cost of roughly $50 billion, but they are also regarded as the games in which the most sweeping security measures have been implemented has been (but then, security experts say that the Games are being held in one of the more dangerous, terrorist-prone regions of the world).
Federal Secret Service (FSB) expert Andrei Soldatov sees the recent suicide attacks in Volgograd as a warning about attacks by terrorists during the Games. “I am very fearful that they wanted to distract the security forces from the upcoming Olympic Games,” said Soldatov.
Despite the warnings by terrorists, Russian leaders guaranteed the Olympics will be safe. Among other security measures, FSB experts will be using the technical system SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities) to monitor mobile telephone calls and e-mails in addition to messenger services and chats on the Internet. Russia will also deploy 5,500 security cameras to help with video surveillance. It has been reported that the FSB is planning to use drones as well as positioning systems that can control submarines and boats in order to stop attacks from the sea.
Many note that Russia deals with the issue of securing the Games with the same heavy-handed approach that often characterize the Russian government’s approachVedomosti, a Russian newspaper, reports that Russia’s security services use the anti-terror campaign to restrict various freedoms of Russian residents in areas far from Sochi. “Those in power want to cleanse the areas in and around Sochi of all malcontents who could damage the image of the host nation,” Vedomosti said. Environmental activists who oppose the destruction of the city’s unique nature are being threatened with criminal charges.
Some experts were concerned when President Vladimir Putin selected Sochi as the Olympic destination, not only because it is one of Russia’s warmest cities in the winter, but it is far from the safest city. Some of the Olympic facilities are near the border of Abkhazia, a region which Russia recognizes as an independent state, after Georgia lost control over Abkhazia in a 2008 war with Russia. The Russian-Abkhazian border will be closed during the Olympic Games. Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB has said, with border controls strengthened to stop the entry of terrorists into Russia.
Russia has looked at staging the Sochi Games as part of broader campaign of the branding of a New Russia. “The city will definitely not look like a concentration camp,” emphasized the leading FSB member Alexei Lavrichtchev. Russia will have “secure” Games and things being “comfortable” for the participants. The Olympics will be organized at a respectable level.
