MOSCOW – Russia has begun implementing stringent security measures in its southern resort of Sochi, one month before the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Tens of thousands of police, security agents, rescue workers and army troops are being deployed for the games, which run Feb. 7-23. On Tuesday, all vehicles were banned from the area except for those registered in Sochi or with special Olympics passes.
Vladimir Puchkov, who heads the Emergency Situations Ministry, said all of his security units for Sochi were on duty as of Tuesday.
Security concerns are high because of an Islamist insurgency simmering in the nearby North Caucasus region. Fears were heightened following two suicide bombings last week in the city of Volgograd, about 600 kilometres away, which killed 34 people and wounded scores.
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