Russian agencies guarantee safety of Sochi Olympics

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks as International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge listens during a presentation of the medals that will be awarded at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi May 30, 2013 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Getty Images)

Moscow, July 4 (IANS): The safety of visitors to the Sochi Winter Olympics Games will be guaranteed, Russian National Anti-terrorist Committee (NAK) has said.

“Despite the calls by various gang leaders in the North Caucasus, all Russia’s state institutions, special services and law enforcement bodies are constantly implementing a set of measures aimed at providing security for Russian citizens,” the NAK said in a statement Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

Thus the NAK responded to the video address uploaded on the internet Wednesday by Chechen warlord Doku Umarov, who has called on Islamist fighters to “compromise” the Sochi Olympics.

The NAK added that it would put a particular focus on large-scale international sports events to guarantee safety of their participants and visitors.

Umarov, who has been recognised as a terrorist both by Russia and the US, urged the Islamist fighters not to allow the Winter Olympic Games to be held in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi in February 2014.

Earlier, Umarov claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in Russia, including suicide bombings in the Moscow subway in 2010 and at Domodedovo Airport in 2011.