US travel alert issued for the Sochi Olympics in Russia
Washington : The upcoming Sochi Olympics in Russia will be a global travel, tourism and sports event. The US State Department has issued a travel alert for Americans planning on traveling to Russia to attend the winter Olympic Games in Sochi, warning them to stay clear of transportation hubs and other crowded areas, in part because of recent terrorism.
The upcoming Sochi Olympics in Russia will be a global travel, tourism and sports event.The travel alert did not specify any particular threat and noted that Russia has promised to protect athletes, fans, and infrastructure throughout the Games, which run from February 7 to February 23.
“There is no indication of a specific threat to US institutions or citizens, but US citizens should be aware of their personal surroundings and follow good security practices,” it said.
Terrorist activity has been a problem in the nation, with 34 people killed and 77 injured in December in two bombings in the city of Volgograd in southern Russia.
Security officials have locked down much of the Sochi area to prevent any kind of violence or disturbances at the games. Tens of thousands of police and interior ministry officials will be on hand to prevent any violence, with security officials locking down much of the area.
President Vladimir Putin also forbid any protests at the Games, although that decree was later amended to include a designated protest area miles away from any Olympic facilities. In the wake of the Volgograd bombings, Russia’s transportation authorities have banned passengers to board planes with any liquids, except for medicines and child food.
The State Department mentioned the controversial law passed in the Russian Duma forbidding the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors. While it was initially unclear as to whether the policy would be enforced at the Olympics, the State Department says it is understood that Russians as well as foreigners will be subject to the law during the Games.
“Russian citizens found guilty of violating the law could face a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($3,100),” the advisory said. “Foreign citizens face similar fines, up to 14 days in jail, and deportation. The law makes it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public, but lacks concrete legal definitions for key terms.”
The alert also warned that medical capacity and infrastructure in the region are untested for handling huge amount of visitors.
The warning also comes after Russian authorities discovered six dead bodies with explosives nearby in a region north of the Caucasus Mountains, an area not far from where Chechen terrorists call home.
‘ The US State Department has taken notice of such events, recommending that travelers avoid any protests or major gatherings that could be considered a target ,’ etn.travel reports.
January 13 , 2014
