Window on Eurasia: Sochi Countdown -- 36 Weeks to the Olympiad in the North Caucasus

Note:  This is my 16th special Window on Eurasia about the meaning and impact of the planned Olympiad on the nations in the surrounding region.  These WOEs, which will appear each Friday over the coming year, will not aim at being comprehensive but rather will consist of a series bullet points about such developments.  I would like to invite anyone with special knowledge or information about this subject to send me references to the materials involved.  My email address is paul.goble@gmail.com  Allow me to express my thanks to all those who already have. Paul Goble

Despite FSB Efforts, Circassian Issue is Gaining Prominence and Will Continue to Do So After Games. Over the last year, the Russian special services have devoted “colossal efforts to neutralize the Circassian issue,” Israeli analyst Avraam Shmulyevich says, but “they are not all-powerful” and cannot control even as much as their KGB predecessors did. As a result, the Circassian issue will become even more critical in the run up to the Sochi Olympics and continue to intensify after them as well (apn.ru/publications/article29213.htm).

Chechen Leader Killed in Ankara; Some Suspect Russian Involvement.  Medet Unlu, the self-proclaimed honorary consul of Chechnya-Icherkia in the Turkish capital, was found dead on May 22, a date that “Today’s Zaman” says may be related to the 149^th anniversary of the Circassian genocide” and pointing out that “in recent years, Moscow has been made more and more uncomfortable by the politicization of May 21 ‘genocide’ talk and the ‘No Sochi’ campaigns against the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics” (todayszaman.com/columnistDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=316691).

FSB Units to Expand in Anticipation of Sochi Security Needs.  The FSB border service will grow over the next year so as to be in a position to provide security for the Olympiad, its commander says (interfax.ru/tourism/tourisminf.asp?id=308892&sec=1466, news.sport-express.ru/2013-05-27/589398/ and  avtoradio.ru/?an=ar-news-group-one&uid=270746).

Moscow Wants Information But Not Direct Involvement of Foreign Intelligence Services, US Scholar Says. According to NYU Professor Mark Galleotti, “so far Russia is taking a more cautious and restrictive approach - asking other countries to hand over intelligence and let Moscow worry about Olympic security. While these are certainly Russia’s Games, true security cooperation is a matter of give and take, a discussion rather than a monologue. The more the Russians are willing to incorporate outsiders, the most productive the process will be. --- However, it remains to be seen if true intelligence sharing between the West  and Russia can take place in time for Sochi” (rbth.ru/opinion/2013/05/27/will_spy_scandal_hamper_us-russia_collaboration_on_sochi_olympics_sec_26385.html).

Marriot Chain Says It Won’t Be Able to Open Hotels in Sochi in Time for Olympiad.  Construction delays mean that Marriott International will not be able to complete three hotels in Sochi prior to the opening of the Sochi Games, the latest and most public indication that all is far less well in that city than Russian officials maintain and that many of the support facilities will in fact not be ready in time (yuga.ru/news/297065/, blogsochi.ru/content/nelzya-byt-uverennym-chto-k-olimpiade-vse-gostinitsy-budut-dostroeny  and kommersant.ru/doc/2200299).

Sochi Journalist Released from Custody, Still Faces Charges.  A court has released Sochi journalist Nikolay Yarst in advance of his trial, but his supporters fear that he will suffer more problems in the coming days. A few are calling for the organization of a protest movement to protect him and other journalists from official pressure (logsochi.ru/content/nikolai-yarst-osvobozhden-iz-pod-strazhi, blogsochi.ru/content/nachalos-obshchestvennoe-rassledovanie-prichin-zaderzhaniya-zhurnalista, blogsochi.ru/content/nikolai-yarst-dostavlen-v-tsentralnyi-raionnyi-sud-goroda-sochi and blogsochi.ru/content/obedinyatsya-pora).

New Storm Brings Down Tree Limbs into Sochi Walkways, Streets. Yet another storm has made numerous walkways and streets impassable, this time by bringing down tree limbs, according to one local resident. Despite complaints, many of the limbs have not been removed. Such storms are not uncommon in that region (blogsochi.ru/content/peshekhodnuyu-tropu-peregorodili-upavshie-posle-shtormovogo-vetra-derevya and blogsochi.ru/content/foto-silneishei-grozy-v-sochi-s-24-go-na-25-oe-maya).

Earthquake Shakes Sochi. A 5.8 earthquake shoock Sochi, residents say. Officials suggest that the epicemter was in neighboring Karacheyvo-Cherkesia, 158 kilometers from the Olympic site (blogsochi.ru/content/zhiteli-sochi-oshchutili-zemletryasenie-proizoshedshee-na-kavkaze).

Moscow Refuses to Establish Quota for Foreign Circassians to Study in North Caucasus. The Russian education and science ministry has refused to set a quota that would allow Circassians from the diaspora to study in the universities of the Circassian republics of the North Caucasus (hekupsa.com/cherkesiya/sobytiya/883-vuzy-cherkesskikh-respublik-ne-poluchili-kvot-na-obuchenie-sootechestvennikov-iz-zarubezha).

Circassian Youth Said Being Radicalized by Diaspora. “Argumenty i fakty” reports that local officials are concerned that young people in the Circassian republics are becoming increasingly radicalized at least in part because of their exposure to Circassians from the diaspora (adigea.aif.ru/society/article/33701, adigea.aif.ru/crime/article/34629 and adigea.aif.ru/society/news/74639).

Cartoon Showing Olympic Medals in Form of Skulls Surfaces on Facebook. A drawing showing Sochi Olympiad winners receiving medals shaped like skulls, a reference to the Circassian genocide there in 1864, is now circulating on Facebook (facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151684564022269&set=o.181831168526302&type=1&theater).

Moscow Produces Its Own Version of ‘Miracle.’ In advance of the Sochi Games, the Russian government has released its answer to the American film “Miracle” about the US defeat of the Soviet team in 1980 in the form of a film about the Soviet team’s defeat of the NHL team in 1972. In the last month, it has been among the highest-grossing films in the Russian Federation (rbth.ru/arts/sport/2013/05/26/russias_chariots_of_fire_on_ice_aims_to_inspire_olympic_glory_26379.html).

Will Contractors Have to Bring In a Special Vehicle to Rescue Other Machines? Sochi residents suggest that potholes and other subsidence problems have left so many construction vehicles trapped that the Russian authorities may have to bring in a special vehicle to rescue those now trapped in the mud (blogsochi.ru/content/poyavitsya-li-v-sochi-evakuator-dlya-evakuatorov).

Sochi Officials Expand Crackdown on Illegal Gaming Sites.  Officials in Sochi have launched a number of raids to try to close illegal gaming sites, but the number and invisibility of many of them suggest that a large number of them continue to operate (blogsochi.ru/content/presechena-nezakonnaya-igrovaya-deyatelnost).

Sochi Residents Outraged that Corrupt Officials Haven’t Been Fired.  Outraged by widespread corruption among Sochi officialdom – yet another was charged last week (blogsochi.ru/content/nachalnik-departamenta-fizkultury-i-sporta-dmitrii-lazarev-zaklyuchen-pod-strazhu) – residents have organized meetings to discuss and protest the failure of the Sochi administration to police its own ranks, with some suggesting that those at the top continue to protect the most corrupt (blogsochi.ru/content/%C2%ABv-rezultate-byudzhet-nedopoluchil-93-500-000-rublei%C2%BB and

blogsochi.ru/content/v-ofise-%C2%ABmestnoi%C2%BB-ostryi-spor-nezavisimykh-lyudei-o-korruptsii-v-verkhnikh-eshelonakh-vlast-0).

‘An Olympiad without Electricity?’  Some Moscow observers are now speculating that the failure of Russian officials to address the electricity problem in Sochi may leave the games without enough electricity and some support areas without any, a shortcoming that could seriously complicate the lives of competitors and fans (rbcdaily.ru/economy/562949987092711).

Ukrainian President Flies Over Sochi, Tells Putin He Sees Lots of Construction.  Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that he had seen construction “everywhere” when he flew over Sochi. Putin acknowledged that all this construction has created definite problems for visitors this year but said it was necessary for the games (blogsochi.ru/content/vladimir-putin-i-viktor-yanukovich-o-stroike-v-sochi).

Sochi Souvenirs Now Among Most Counterfeited Goods in Russia. Forbes reports that counterfeiters are flooding the market with fake and unlicensed Sochi souvenirs, a respond the business journal says to enormous demnd. Russian officials say they are trying to protect the rights of those who have purchased one of the more than 5,000 licenses to produce such goods (vesti-sochi.tv/olimpiada/17232-teper-olimpijskie-suveniry-raspisany-i-pod-gzhel).

Sochi Games Will Undermine Putin, Khrushchev’s Descendent Says. Nina Khrushchev told Moscow’s independent Rain TV that “Putin awaits the fate of Beria” in that he will be swallowed up by the system he has created.  The Sochi Games in particular, she said, won’t strengthen his position (tvrain.ru/articles/pravnuchka_hruscheva_putina_zhdet_sudba_berii-344073/).

Pupils in Sochi Schools Will Begin School Earlier to Have Time Off for Games. Russian officials have announced that students attending schools in Sochi and its environs will begin their school year this fall a week earlier so that they can have a break when the games themselves take place (www.dg-yug.ru/a/2013/05/27/V_Sochi_detej_otpravjat_v_sh  vesti-sochi.tv/obshhestvo/17237-v-novom-uchebnom-godu-sochinskie-shkolniki-budut-otdyhat-na-6-dnej-bolshe  and fedpress.ru/news/society/news_society/1369643289-iz-za-olimpiady-uchebnyi-god-v-sochi-nachnetsya-na-nedelyu-ranshe).

Price of Sochi Tickets Far Beyond Average Russian’s Ability to Pay. Attending a single Olympic competition at Sochi will cost an average of 6400 rubles (215 US dollars), not including transportation, food and lodging, a figure that puts the games beyond the reach of most Russians. Nonetheless, ticket sales are already strong in Moscow and the North Caucasus, “Sovtsky sport” says (sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/611790).

Officials Plan for Sochi Residents to Watch Games on Television.  Because the costs of tickets are beyond the means of many Sochi resdents, officials there have announced plans for them to watch the competition on television just like those further away will do (gudok.ru/news/sport/?ID=912532).

Organizer Says Sochi Games Wll Be “Better and More Secure” Because of International Cooperation.  Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the Sochi 014 organizing committee, says the competition next year will be “still better and more secure” following the signing of cooperation agreements with various international partners (itar-tass.com/c20/750354.html).

Abkhazians Suffered as Circassians Did, Writer Says.  Metin Sonmez, a Circassian who writes frequently on Abkhazian issues,says that Ruslan Kesh’s argument that the fate of the Ciricassians in 1864 and that of the Abkhazians in 1877 should not be compared does not stand up to historical scrutiny and in fact contradicts the reports of visitors to that region aat the time (abkhazworld.com/abkhazia/history/989-writing-and-rewriting-history-a-response-to-ruslan-kesh-by-metin-sonmez.html).

Cossacks Have Their Own Ideas about End of Caucasus War.  The Caucasus diaspora of the Kuban has decided to declare a different 150^th anniversary to the end of the Caucasus War than the Circassians do, thus adding fuel to the fires of confusion (http://hekupsa.com/cherkesiya/obzor/902-kazaki-gotovyat-provokatsiyu).

Election Results in Kudepsta Disputed.  The losing side in the elections for the leadership of the Kudepsta territorial social self-administration say that administrative measures were used to ensure the outcome and say that it is illegitimate. Indeed, one calls the outcome “an attempt to seize power” in that region where local people are opposing the construction of a power station for Sochi (blogsochi.ru/content/kavkazskii-uzel-dvoevlastie-v-kudepste).

Workplace Problems Seen Leading to ‘Social Explosion’ in Sochi.  The failure of companies to pay wages or to follow workplace rules is likely to lead to a social explosion in Sochi, workers and their supporters say. Som workers have not been paid for three months, and others say that they have not received the necessary construction materials and hence are being forced to violate construction rules in order to meet deadlines. When workers have threatened to strike, their bosses have told them that if they don’t like the way things are in Sochi, they can go back to wherever they came from. The workers say they have written to Putin and other officials without getting any response (blogsochi.ru/content/na-stroitelstve-olimpiiskikh-obektov-v-sochi-nazrevaet-sotsialnyi-vzryv and facebook.com/groups/antisochi/permalink/544762582233157/).

Sochi Mayor Admits Olympic Construction Has Messed Up City for This Year’s Season.  Anatoly Pakhomov has finally acknowledged that continuing construction for next year’s games has messed up the city for this year’s tourist season as residents have long complained (blogsochi.ru/content/mer-sochi-anatolii-pakhomov-priznalsya-v-tom-chto-izurodoval-sochi and blogsochi.ru/content/administratsiya-sochi-ugolovnoe-delo-za-zatyagivanie-srokov-remonta-sochinskikh-ulits).

Sochi Definitely Not Ready for Para-Olympics.  Despite repeated promises and agreements, Sochi Games organizers have failed to meet minimum standards for access for para-Olympic competitors, and signs have appeared showing those confined to wheelchairs crashing down stairways, the only access to many venues (blogsochi.ru/content/%C2%ABkarta-dostupnosti%C2%BB).

Sochi’s Icemakers Profiled. Because of the special role they will play in the first winter Olympiad to be held in a subtropical zone, Sochi’s icemakers have been profiled by local people. Many do quite conventional things like prepare ice for hockey competitions, but others are warehousing snow for next year (blogsochi.ru/content/odin-den-iz-zhizni-ledovarov ).

Police Raid Residence of Sochi Environmentalist, Say Looking for Weapons.  Sochi police officers raided the apartment and dacha of Vladimir Kimayev, a member of Environmental Watch on the North Caucasus. They said they were looking for weapons but acknowledged that they didn’t find any (sochiwatchdotorg.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/police-was-looking-for-weapons-and-ammunition-at-vladimir-kimaevs-residences/).

Russia’s Republican Party Profiles Corruption, Theft in Sochi.  The Republican Party of Russia has put out two video tapes about just how much corruption there has been and remains in the Sochi construction effort (blogsochi.ru/content/olimpiiskii-rospil).

Nemtsov Releases “The Winter Olympiad in the Subtropics.” Opposition figures Boris Nemtsov and Leonid Martynyukh have released a 32-page pamphlet on the Sochi games, that includes assessments of the amount of corruption involved and the risks the games present for those directly involved and for Russia as a whole (putin-itogi.ru/zimnyaya-olimpiada-v-subtropikax/). The full text is available online at putin-itogi.ru/cp/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ZimniayaOlimpiadaVSubtropikah-Nemtsov-Martyniuk.pdf.