A Chechen rebel leader called for militants to do “everything possible” to prevent the Sochi Olympics in a video published on a website Wednesday.
Doku Uramov said, translated, “We have the obligation to use all means to prevent this,” according to The Associated Press. Sochi is 300 miles west of Chechnya and neighboring Dagestan, which have a recent history littered with violence.
The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee emailed a statement to the AP, saying, “We are confident that the Games will be safe and comfortable for all as guaranteed by the Russian state.”
“We have no doubt that the Russians will be up to the task and we continue to have full confidence in them,’' International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams told the AP.
The Sochi Olympics begin with official competition on Feb. 6, followed by the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 7. They conclude on Sunday, Feb. 23.