Andrei Rudomakha: Adygea is under risk of becoming UNESCO's opponent

The broad international community will soon firmly associate Adygea with destruction of objects of the World Natural Heritage.

Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus, has expressed this opinion in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. He has related his statement with the fact that the decree on liquidation of two nature sanctuaries that had been signed earlier but was kept a secret has now become known.

According to the ecologist, the decree was signed back on July 13 this year and is entitled "On Lapsing Decree of the President of Republic Adygea of December 23, 1997, No. 274 'On Announcing Upper Reaches of River Tsitse, and Upper Reaches of Rivers Pshekha and Pshekhashkha to Be Nature Sanctuaries of Republic's Importance'."

Mr Rudomakha said that these nature sanctuaries are making parts of the object of the World Natural Heritage "Western Caucasus." The decree has recently become known to the public as a result of the examination conducted by various control bodies of the legality of the road that is now being built to the "Lunnaya Polyana" (Moon Valley) mountain-skiing complex.

Besides, as Andrei Rudomakha notes, President of Adygea has neglected the fact that the decisions on the status of these nature sanctuaries was already beyond his competence since they had been recognized as objects of the World Natural Heritage.

The UNESCO's Centre of World Heritage has already expressed to the authorities of Russia its concern about the construction of the road to the "Lunnaya Polyana."