Only Sochi-marked vehicles are now allowed in the town that will host next month's Winter Olympics. Air and sea traffic restrictions have also been imposed; anyone travelling to the area will submit to stringent security checks area.

Moscow (AsiaNews/Agencies) - One month before the Winter Olympics begin and two weeks after the deadly bombings in Volgograd, Russia has imposed stringent security measures around Sochi, the resort town that will host this year's Games.

A special exclusion zone went into force yesterday under which only Sochi-marked vehicles, emergency or specially accredited intelligence service cars will be allowed into the wider Sochi area.

Air and sea traffic restrictions have also been imposed; anyone planning to travel to the area will have to submit to stringent security checks.

Exceptional security measures are directly related to the terrorist attacks on 29 and 30 December.

Even though no has claimed responsibility for them, they have been blamed on the  'Caucasus Emirate,' a  Chechen group led by Doku Umarov who last summer called on his followers to do everything possible to prevent the holding of the Winter Olympics.

Russia is pouring huge amounts of money into the Games, an opportunity for President Putin to increase his country's international prestige.

• russia
• sochi
• volgograd
• olympics
• security
• measures
• terrorism