The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Security is top priority at World Cup, but threats loom
For President Vladimir Putin, the World Cup marks a moment of pride, a long-sought opportunity to showcase Russia’s achievements and bolster its international prestige. The Russian leader has made security of the tournament the top priority, ordering an array of measures to fend off any potential threats from the ground, sea or air.
“This whole event was intended to be a soft power exercise for Russia,” said Mark Galeotti, a senior fellow at the Institute for International Relations in Prague who has closely followed Russian security agencies. “The Russians are going to try to ensure they can do whatever they can to make it secure.”
But despite the meticulous preparations, security challenges abound in a country that has fought a separatist insurgency in the North Caucasus, faced a spate of suicide bombing and other terror attacks for years and waged a military campaign in Syria. Radical Islamists of all stripes could be eager to target the World Cup to hurt Russia and raise their profile.
Aware of the looming danger, Russian law enforcement agencies have spent the last few years methodically preparing for the event — tracking down radical groups, installing security equipment and conducting drills.
“I can assure you that all aspects have been taken into account and we have taken note of all threats,” said Alexei Sorokin, head of World Cup organizing committee. “The right balance will be found between security and comfort for fans.”
As part of security measures, the authorities have introduced the so-called Fan ID — a chipped ID issued to those willing to attend the World Cup matches after a sweeping background check.
At last year’s Confederations Cup, Russian authorities blacklisted 191 fans with criminal records, and just hours before the tournament began, dozens more, including members of some radical groups, were refused permission to attend the tournament.
Igor Zubov, a deputy Russian interior minister, vowed recently that police wouldn’t allow any brawls and would move quickly to deport any foreign fans who violate public order.
Among other security precautions, officials went as far as to close sea ports near the cities hosting the tournament to all potentially dangerous cargo for two months from May 25 to July 25. The ban that covers various chemical components has interfered with normal operations of major auto factories and other industrial plants across Russia. The Russian authorities also have tightened air traffic rules, broadly expanding no-flight zones near the World Cup host cities and nearby sports facilities.
The Russian Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB successor agency, have deployed sophisticated anti-drone equipment in all 11 cities that would host the World Cup, including some systems that were used to protect a Russian air base in Syria from drone attacks.
The military will protect World Cup sites with an array of air defense missiles and other weapons, and squadrons of fighter jets stand ready to scramble to fend off any air attack.
The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi saw a similar set of sweeping security measures.