Global General

Russia closes Elbrus resorts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-16 17:51

MOSCOW - Russian will close all Elbrus mountain area resorts in the Caucasus starting Saturday, due to an anti-terrorists operation, the Interfax news agency reported.

Citing the Kabardian-Balkarian Operational Headquarters, it said the move was aimed at preventing possible threats to tourists' lives.

"As the dangers of sabotage and terrorist actions remain in Kabardian-Balkarian territory...in order to prevent possible threats to people's lives...tourist groups and individual tourists have been barred from entering Elbrus resorts," the headquarters was quoted as saying.

The operation involved parts of Elbrus, Baksan, Chegem,  and Cherek districts and part of the city of Nalchik, according to it.

However, the headquarters wouldn't say how long the ban will last, only mentioning that "the Elbrus resorts will be reopened to visitors soon after the completion of the operation."

In February, unknown gunmen opened fire at a van carrying tourists  en rourte to Elbrus area from Moscow, killing three people and wounding two others. In response, Russia imposed an anti-terrorism regime in Elbrus and part of the Baksan district.