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Russian frontier department angered by Cerpolex
Apr 2, 2005 17: 54 EST
Previously published Mar 16, 2005 21: 19 EST
The North Pole expeditions are all on the ice and underway. That doesn’t put a rest to the controversy surrounding Cerpolex and the widespread complaints of their business practices.
It doesn't happen often, but sometimes expedition outfitters actually are banned from practice. Latest was the mountaineering expedition leader Henry Todd, who was banned from leading expeditions in Nepal, and actually from entering the country altogether for 2 years.
Russians have had enough
Now it seems that the Russians are having more than enough of Cerpolex. Authorities are calling for regulations of the NP tourism industry, and for Bernard Buigues - the chief of Cerpolex - to be banned from the area altogether.
Yesterday, ExplorersWeb received a copy of an official letter written by the Head of the Frontier Department in Murmansk on March 14th and addressed to the Deputy Chairman of State Duma of the Russian Federation Federal Assembly, President of Association of Polar explorers of Russia.
The letter is a heated, thorough, and formal criticism of Cerpolex and the series of violations committed by them in Khatanga. ExplorersWeb has been reporting on the story from the start – and all the detailed background information can be viewed in earlier articles.
The letter:
Dear Artur Nikolaevich,
I herein inform you of a fact of rough violation of the Russian Federation legislation and criminal neglect of official persons in carrying out sport-tourist program “North Pole-2005” on the area of responsibility of frontier management.
On February 25, 2005, in the settlement Khatanga of Taimyr Autonomous District a group of foreign sportsmen arrived from Moscow consisting of 10 persons. The leader of the group (expedition institutor) is Bernard Buigues, manager of “Cerpolex” firm, (France).
Group composition:
1. De Marliave Christian, France
2. Buigues Bernard, France, group leader;
3. Troublais Roman, France,
4. Arnesen Liv (female), Norway,
5. Naikvist Peter, Norway,
6. Herbert Peter Saimon, Great Britain,
7. Daniels Ann (female), Great Britain,
8. Cornelissen Markus, Netherlands,
9. Stone Douglas Shandler, USA,
10. Bancroft Ann Escott (female), USA.
On arrival at the Khatanga airport, in the course of a check carried out by the frontier Detachment, it was established that there were no permissive documents for the right of entering and staying of foreign citizens in an area of regulated attendance, and this was a basis for bringing them to administrative responsibility (penalty was imposed at the rate of 500 rubles per person for the violation of frontier regime).
No North Pole expedition permit
In the course of further check it was established that the expedition institutor Mr. Bernard Buigues didn’t have any permissive documents for carrying out the expedition (permit of the general Staff of Armed Force of Russian Federation, Federal Security Service of Russian Federation, Frontier Management of Federal Security Service of Russia for Murmansk region).
Manager of the frontier station explained Mr. Bernard Buigues that it was impossible to carry out the expedition in such conditions. After that he flew to Moscow for obtaining relevant permits, and the other foreign citizens remained in Khatanga.
No arrangements for flight in restricted area
Transportation of the group from settlement Khatanga to the point of departure (Cape Arktichesky, Archipelago Severnaya Zemlya) was planned by helicopters Mi-8 of Khatanga flight detachment PJSC “Airlines Taimyr.”
However, neither the expedition management, nor the management of the Airlines made any arrangements concerning the organization and implementation of flights over the area of the frontier management.
Passports confiscated
Moreover, they were sent an official letter of the Arctic frontier detachment of a prohibition for supplying aviation fuel to outside organizations on Cape Cheliuskin and isle of Sredny and of the impossibility of ensuring the flying of the aircraft.
On the 4th of March this year the foreign participants of the expedition attempted to fly to Cape Arktichesky by themselves. Due to the efforts of the frontier detachment the flight was prevented, and the foreign citizens were transported to the hotel; to impede unwarranted frontier crossing by and arbitrary departure from the route to Canada their passports were taken from them.
Russia’s Polar Explorer Association fixing permits
By the end of March 4 this year, on the basis of the application of vice-president of Russia’s Polar Explorer Association, Mr. Seleznev P.V., a permit for carrying out the expedition was obtained from the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces (Acting Manager of the Chief Operative Directorate V. Romanchenko No. 312/1/138 of 25.02.05).
FSS: It's a go, providing observance of procedures
On the 5th of March this year, based on the request from the Governor of Taimyr (Dolgano-Nenetsky) autonomous district, Mr. Budargin O.M., a letter was received from Federal Security Service of Russia signed by acting manager of the Directorate, A. Roshchupkin, saying that Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation doesn’t object from carrying out the expedition providing the observance of necessary procedures (No. 2/KA/3-292 dated 04.03.05).
On the same day a corresponding permit of the Frontier Directorate of Federal Security Service of Russia for Murmansk region was received (No. 21/102/1/1/1178 of 05.03.05).
Helicopters refuel at the expense of the frontier directorate
In the period of March, 4 to 9, the Head of Administration of settlement Khatanga, Mr. Fokin, N.A. made efforts to solve a problem of refueling the helicopters at the expense of the frontier directorate in settlements of Cheluskin and Sredny. However, the problem was not solved positively.
Hunger strike
On March 10, this year, because of the unsatisfactory organization of the expedition, two of the foreign citizens (Norway, USA) attempted a hunger strike; to boost the situation it was planned to attract Russian and foreign mass media.
On March 11, this year, at 5.30 (Moscow time) six persons of the expedition participants and three supporting persons flew en-route: Khatanga - isle of Taimyr – Cape Cheluskin – isle of Sredny – cape Arktichesky, without arranging the problem of helicopter refueling.
Border folks forced to help expedition, Cerpolex chief out of town
On arrival at Cape Cheluskin they placed the frontier directorate in a complicated situation, having actually made it undertake further supporting procurement of the expedition to avoid the death of its common members.
In the course of the situation occurred I want to emphasize that expedition institutor Mr. Bernard Buigues didn’t undertake the organizational problems, he has been away from settlement Khatanga and his location is unknown.
2004
Moreover, he violated Russian legislation more than once, e.g. in 2003 he, without passing an established procedure of frontier formalities, sent a group of foreign citizens from settlement Khatanga through the North Pole to Shpitzbergen (Norway). Due to his irresponsible attitude to safety of tourists one citizen of Finland, Dominick Arduin, died.
Resources of Governors, General Consuls, management of FSS, and Security officials
To settle the situation that occurred with the expedition within the program “North Pole-2005” governors of Taimyr (Dolgano-Nenetsky) autonomous district, Krasnoyarsk Krai and Murmansk Region, were involved, as well as the management of the Frontier Directorate of Russian Federation Federal Security Service for Murmansk Region and Isolated Arctic frontier detachment, an official of Federal Security Service under Russian Federation Embassy in Finland, General Consul of Norway in Murmansk.
Cerpolex violated the activity on guarding the state frontier; inflicted moral and material damage
I would like to note that individual officials of the administration of said Russian Federation subjects put pressure on the management of frontier directorate and on the bodies of air traffic organization.
This was done regardless of gross drawbacks in organizing the expedition. Actions of the management of tourist company “Cerpolex” (France) and its Russian partners have violated the every-day activity on guarding the state frontier of the Russian Federation and inflicted moral and material damage to the Frontier Directorate.
Recommendations
I consider it reasonable to take the following measures:
1. To bring the work of tourist firms in compliance with the Russian Legislation carrying out their activity in Arctic Regions, to arrange the procedure of requesting permits from competent bodies for carrying out expeditions, to centralize the organization, management and safety assurance of sport-and-tourist activities within the framework of program “North Pole.”
2. To recommend the Air Traffic Department of the Russian Federation Ministry of Transport to strengthen control over the issue of corresponding permits and licenses to airlines implementing their activities in Arctic regions.
3. To consider the stay of French citizen Bernard Buigues undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation for his disrespect for Russian laws and attempt of organizing disturbances in the frontier zone.
Best Regards,
Manager of Frontier Directorate of the
Federal Security Service for Murmansk Region
Major General (signature) V.G. Gubenko
Image of Borneo base courtesy of Peter West/National Science Foundation.
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