Interfax: Terror threat at Sochi Olympics not greater than at other Olympics – Medvedev

(Interfax – January 23, 2014) The security threats facing next month’s Winter Olympic Games in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi are not much more serious that those at the Olympic Games in other countries.

“Frankly, I don’t think that the threat is greater at the Sochi Olympics than at other Olympics in other countries. We live in a global world. We have seen the tragic events that have taken place in other countries, including the United States, at sporting events. So it would be unfair and incorrect to claim that these threats are concentrated around Sochi,” Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with CNN.

The CNN reporter speaking to Medvedev said that the Russian security forces had sent out an alert about a specific so-called “black widow” who may have penetrated even the ring of steel around Sochi already. Medvedev responded by saying that “it would be wrong to rely only on the security measures that are being taken today.”

“As you know, we are locked in an intense fight against terrorism. Unfortunately, this is the reality we face in our country. So the existing threats, including the threat you just mentioned, occur not in the context of the Games. We are constantly battling them,” the Russian prime minister said.

“In some cases, the measures we take are successful. In other cases, unfortunately, they do not have the expected result,” Medvedev said.