Telegram users are skeptical about a comparison of Anapa and Cote d'Azur beaches.

Three officials assured the safety of Anapa's beaches, comparing them to the French Riviera and the sand to that of Thailand. The officials' claims are unsubstantiated, and the protracted sand refilling is discouraging tourists, Telegram users commented.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," the Kuban office of Rospotrebnadzor stated that water samples and areas where new sand has been added meet the required standards for petroleum product content, unlike at Anapa's beaches, where imported sand has not yet been added. The swimming season in Anapa officially opens on June 1 and runs until September 30. Permission for swimming in the sea will be valid in areas excluded from the danger zone designated after the tanker emergency. As of June 3, 4.5 kilometers of sandy beaches were operational, and tourists were urged to leave areas where new sand was being added. Social media users expressed concerns about the safety of the water and sand. Sand sifting from the Medical Beach to the Bimlyuk Sanatorium has been completed, the mayor of Anapa announced on June 4. Authorities promised to open all beaches by June 1, but most sandy beaches remain closed, commentators emphasized.

Officials assured of the safety of recreation in Anapa

Over the past 24 hours, three officials at once stated that Anapa's beaches are ready for recreation and are safe.

For example, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko compared the beaches of Anapa and the French Riviera.

"I think everyone "It's fine. Cleaner, I think, than on the Cote d'Azur," he said in a video interview with TASS, answering the question of whether everything was fine in Anapa.

Krasnodar Krai Governor Veniamin Kondratyev compared the sand on the beaches of Anapa and Thailand.

"Krasnodar Krai not only maintains its status as a health resort in the country, its spa and resort complex, it is developing. And today we are talking primarily about Anapa. Just recently, I don't want to advertise, one of the most famous Thai companies, literally a global brand. We opened a hotel in Anapa together. It's not just all-inclusive, there's even the sand, which has been talked about a lot, they looked at it, and they said that it is no worse in quality than the sand in Thailand," Vesti quotes him as saying.

On June 5, the head of the Krasnodar Krai also made assurances about the safety of Anapa's beaches. Rospotrebnadzor's Anna Popova said in an interview with RIA Novosti. "After all cleaning, reclamation, and sand refilling technologies have been used, which is also monitored, and every volume is monitored, Anapa's beaches, which have received sanitary and epidemiological approvals, are now completely safe and ready. Those who have already fully completed all the measures that follow the technology defined and prescribed for the reopening of Anapa's beaches, have received these approvals. Therefore, where there is a sanitary and epidemiological approval today, it is absolutely safe to relax," she said in an interview with RIA Novosti. The resort season in Anapa opened amid a sharp contrast in coastal conditions. Some beaches are open and deemed safe, while others are closed due to erosion, unstable soil, and environmental risks. The "Caucasian Knot" report "Anapa Beaches: Open and Dangerous Zones" details which beaches are open and which are dangerous.

Commentators point out the lack of evidence for officials' claims.

A short excerpt from Chernyshenko's interview was reposted by the Telegram channel Yug-24; by 6:00 PM, the post had garnered five comments.

"Did you take a sample for comparison?!" asked Olga..

"Do you have any proof?" - Roman asked.

"I won't believe it until I see him sunbathing on the sand on the beach in Anapa," commented Magic.

Blogger Max Anapsky reposted a fragment of Popova's interview, adding the words: "In short, we've been waiting for a positive assessment."

This post had garnered 5 comments by 6:00 PM Moscow time.

Users complained about the unreadiness of most beaches.

"There's just one small problem. Yesterday I personally witnessed a hotel owner complaining. Tourists arrived, the hotel near the beach on Pionersky looked at the fact that the beaches weren't open yet, and then left. Others arrived, looked at the Kamaz trucks "And they left. It's strange, the beaches are open, but on Dzhemet they're effectively closed, and it's hard to explain to people that they need to go here or there now, and everything will be fine here too, but we don't know exactly when," wrote AI.

"We can't wait for them to open. They promised June 1st, then the 6th, and now, apparently, only after the 12th. It's very sad," commented Tanya.

On December 15, 2024, two tankers carrying fuel oil sank in the Kerch Strait. A crew member from one of the tankers died as a result. In addition, an oil spill occurred, leading to catastrophic environmental consequences, according to the Caucasian Knot report "Fuel Oil Spill in the Kerch Strait".

Materials on the consequences of the fuel oil spill have been collected by the Caucasian Knot on the page "Eco-disaster in Kuban".