Olympic construction threatens to poison Sochi residents with mercury, authorities unaware

The city of Sochi stands on deposits of mercury ore; and its chaotic build-up without due geological surveys can lead to emission of mercury vapours to the surface and result in tragedy. Nadezhda Didenko, candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences and scientific secretary of the Sochi branch of the Russian Geographical Society told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about it. So far, the authorities of Sochi know nothing about it, but promise to address the issue.

Ms Didenko said in her interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent: "We see ore manifestations in Sochi, especially in 'Krasnaya Polyana'; however, the authorities and big business would not like to make this information public and frighten off investors and health-resort visitors away from Sochi. This motivation is clear, but should we take the risk?"

For example, Vladimir Potanin and his company "Roza Khutor" have started building a mounting ski resort in "Krasnaya Polyana", an element of the Olympic construction programme. "However, to name the place a resort, we need to make necessary examinations, scientific researches and surveys, analyze soils, water and air and get conclusions of scientists-geologists and experts. Nothing of this sort was done! They just build, without thinking," the scientist complains.