US travel alert issued for the Sochi Olympics in Russia

The upcoming Sochi Olympics in Russia will be a global travel, tourism and sports event.

The upcoming Sochi Olympics in Russia will be a global travel, tourism and sports event. A US State Department alert, issued Friday,comes one day after FBI director James Comey announced that the bureau will send dozens of agents to Moscow and Sochi, where they will rendezvous with their counterparts in the Russian intelligence service to coordinate and boost security efforts

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.

โ€œSecuring any Olympics is an enormous task,โ€ Comey told reporters Thursday. โ€œI think itโ€™s particularly challenging in Sochi because of its proximity to areas of unrest and sources of a terrorist threat.โ€

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.

โ€œWe have been in regular communication โ€“ including me personally โ€“ with their security organizations to make sure weโ€™re coordinating well. I think we are,โ€ Comey said. โ€œWeโ€™ve improved our information sharing on counterterrorismโ€ฆThe Russian government understands the threat and is devoting the resources to address it.โ€

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, Russiaโ€™s transportation authorities have banned passengers to board planes with any liquids, except for medicines and child food.

Yet, as the same extremists who have levied previous attacks against Russia have vowed more of the same when the Games begin, the US State Department has said Americans โ€œshould remain attentive regarding their personal security at all times.โ€

The State Department mentioned the controversial law passed in the Russian Duma forbidding the โ€œpropaganda of nontraditional sexual relationsโ€ 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.

โ€œRussian citizens found guilty of violating the law could face a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($3,100),โ€ the advisory said. โ€œForeign 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.โ€

The alert also warned that medical capacity and infrastructure in the region are untested for handling huge amount of visitors.

โ€œMedical care in many Russian localities differs substantially from Western standards due to differing practices and approaches to primary care. Travelers should consider purchasing private medical evacuation and/or repatriation insurance.โ€

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.

โ€œUS citizens should avoid large crowds in areas that lack enhanced security measures,โ€ the statement said. โ€œUse caution in any areas where protests, demonstrations, or other public disturbances are taking place. Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can develop quickly and unpredictably, sometimes turning violent.โ€

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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