MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax) - The no-fly zone has been established in the area of Cape Idokopas near Gelendzhik because of the intelligence activity of NATO member states, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said, while the Federal Guard Service (FSO) has denied protecting any properties in Gelendzhik, the newspaper RBC said with reference to those agencies.
The no-fly zone was established in the area of Cape Idokopas consistent with the Russian Transport Ministry's order dated July 24, 2020, for reasons of border security, FSB said in its response to the RBC enquiry.
According to FSB, the no-fly zone was established due to "the increased intelligence activity of a number of neighboring countries, including those from the NATO bloc," over the location of a border post of the FSB Border Department in the Krasnodar Territory.
The border post's administrative building was commissioned in October 2020, FSB said, adding that the unit was tasked with "protecting a section of the Russian state border, securing economic and other lawful interests of the country, exercising control over sea and bio-resources, and ensuring compliance with state border and border control regimes by legal entities and individuals."
The border regime was established in the Gelendzhik waters on FSB orders. There is no ban on boat traffic in the area of Cape Idokopas. There are no other facilities under the security service's jurisdiction in this area.
For its part, FSO told RBC that there are no protected properties in the vicinity of Gelendzhik. FSO has not imposed any bans or restrictions in that area.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that none of the properties mentioned in the film by opposition activist Alexei Navalny have ever belonged either to him or to his relatives. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov directed requests for comment on the no-fly zone over the so-called "Gelendzhik Palace" to FSB and FSO.