The Sochi National Park, the venue for the 2014 Winter Olympics, cannot be used for the construction of any facilities other than those intended by the construction plan, according to a ruling by a provincial court.

The lawsuit was brought by local ecologist Valery Brinikh. The court ruled the so-called zoning of the national reserve illegal, as only 10 per cent of the land allocated for the construction of sports venues was used properly. The rest of the territory was used for illegal construction of private cottages and hotels.
 
Now the Russian Olympic committee will have to make considerable changes to the Olympic construction project.

In another development, several Abkhazian refugees living in Sochi have been evicted from a dilapidated building earmarked for demolition.

Local Executive Officer Ruslan Portnov said the courts had ordered the evictions.

“At the moment they are voluntarily carrying out the court’s decision,” Mr Portnov said.

Fifty two refugees have been already left the building. The rest have been told to get out by October 25.

They Abkhazians will be given temporary shelter at a local hotel until the government decides what to do with them.