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Russian Cossacks patrol Sochi Olympics

  • A Russian Cossack stands inside the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack stands inside the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    A Russian Cossack stands inside the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, check a woman's belongings in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in wake of recent suicide attacks, check woman's belongings in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, check a woman's belongings in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • A Russian Cossack lights a candle near a photo of Russian police senior sergeant Dmitry Makovkin, who was killed in a suicide bomb blast at the city's main railway station, in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack lights a candle near a photo of Russian police senior sergeant Makovkin, in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    A Russian Cossack lights a candle near a photo of Russian police senior sergeant Dmitry Makovkin, who was killed in a suicide bomb blast at the city's main railway station, in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks and their wives sit at a table during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks and their wives sit at a table during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks and their wives sit at a table during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, speak with street vendors while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, speak with street vendors while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, speak with street vendors while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, board a trolley bus while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, board trolley bus while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, board a trolley bus while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, line up in front of a policeman to receive instructions before patrolling streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, line up in front of a policeman to receive instructions before patrolling streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, line up in front of a policeman to receive instructions before patrolling streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • A Russian Cossack and a man dressed as Father Frost present gifts to children during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack and a man dressed as Father Frost present gifts to children during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    A Russian Cossack and a man dressed as Father Frost present gifts to children during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Anna (R), daughter of Russian Cossack Alexander Kriventsev, watches her mother Svetlana prepare before an Orthodox Christmas celebration, at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Anna (R), daughter of Russian Cossack Alexander Kriventsev, watches her mother Svetlana prepare before an Orthodox Christmas celebration, at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • A Russian Cossack checks the bags of visitors to a trade centre in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack checks the bags of visitors to a trade centre in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    A Russian Cossack checks the bags of visitors to a trade centre in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossack Vyacheslav Timoshenko, 13, sheathes a sword after juggling it, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack Timoshenko sheathes a sword after juggling it, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossack Vyacheslav Timoshenko, 13, sheathes a sword after juggling it, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossack Alexander Kriventsev (R), his wife Svetlana (L) and their daughter Anna have a traditional meal at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 6, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack Kriventsev, his wife Svetlana and their daughter Anna have a traditional meal at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossack Alexander Kriventsev (R), his wife Svetlana (L) and their daughter Anna have a traditional meal at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 6, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossack Vitaly Timoshenko, 19, stands behind his personal sword, which was presented to him as a gift last summer, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossack Timoshenko stands behind his personal sword in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossack Vitaly Timoshenko, 19, stands behind his personal sword, which was presented to him as a gift last summer, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks Vitaly Timoshenko (R), 19, and Vyacheslav Timoshenko, 13, juggle swords in the town of Krasny Oktyabr, on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks Vitaly and Vyacheslav juggle swords in the town of Krasny Oktyabr, on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks Vitaly Timoshenko (R), 19, and Vyacheslav Timoshenko, 13, juggle swords in the town of Krasny Oktyabr, on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
  • Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, stand guard in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
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    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols in wake of recent suicide attacks, stand guard in front of Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd

    Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, stand guard in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
    Reuters
A Russian Cossack stands inside the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, check a woman's belongings in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
A Russian Cossack lights a candle near a photo of Russian police senior sergeant Dmitry Makovkin, who was killed in a suicide bomb blast at the city's main railway station, in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks and their wives sit at a table during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, speak with street vendors while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, board a trolley bus while patrolling the streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, line up in front of a policeman to receive instructions before patrolling streets in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 4, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
A Russian Cossack and a man dressed as Father Frost present gifts to children during Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Anna (R), daughter of Russian Cossack Alexander Kriventsev, watches her mother Svetlana prepare before an Orthodox Christmas celebration, at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
A Russian Cossack checks the bags of visitors to a trade centre in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossack Vyacheslav Timoshenko, 13, sheathes a sword after juggling it, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossack Alexander Kriventsev (R), his wife Svetlana (L) and their daughter Anna have a traditional meal at home in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 6, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossack Vitaly Timoshenko, 19, stands behind his personal sword, which was presented to him as a gift last summer, in the town of Krasny Oktyabr on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks Vitaly Timoshenko (R), 19, and Vyacheslav Timoshenko, 13, juggle swords in the town of Krasny Oktyabr, on the outskirts of the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 5, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Russian Cossacks, who started regular patrols within the city in the wake of recent suicide attacks, stand guard in front of the Kazan Orthodox Cathedral in the southern Russian city of Volgograd, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Gabriela Baczynska

By Gabriela Baczynska MOSCOW (Reuters) - Cossacks in their traditional lambswool hats and coats with epaulettes will be patrolling the Russian resort of Sochi for next month's Winter Olympics. Russia has imposed a security clampdown in Sochi to try to ensure the safety of the Games which are a sworn target of Moscow's most wanted man, the Islamic insurgency leader Doku Umarov. The Games are a prestige project for President Vladimir Putin, meant to showcase Russia's modern face more than two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Cossacks bring with them their own stamp of national pride. Cossacks traditionally served the Russian tsars on the borders of their empire and lived in relative freedom but were persecuted later in the Soviet era. Neither part of the police nor the military, they have enjoyed a rapid revival since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, becoming a staunchly conservative social force invited by local officials to join security efforts. Their brand of Russian Orthodox patriotism has won public praise from Putin. But critics accuse them of fierce nationalism and their presence can add to the tension between ethnic Russians and minorities, especially in cities such as Moscow, where many migrants are Muslims from the North Caucasus and ex-Soviet republics in Central Asia. They will join the massive security operation in the Black Sea resort, a few hundred kilometers from the North Caucasus where Islamist separatists are fighting to carve out their own state. "A total of 410 Cossacks will be on duty on train stations, the airport as well as Olympic venues to carry out patrols together with the police," said Konstantin Perenizhko, a deputy to the regional Cossack military leader. They are due to start work on Friday, four weeks before the Games start on February 7. Cossacks have also been patrolling streets, transport networks and shopping malls in Russia's southern city of Volgograd after two deadly suicide bomb attacks there in December. Regional governor in the Krasnodar region, which includes Sochi, Alexander Tkachev, first launched Cossack patrols with some 1,000 men in 2012. "We ran surveys among the inhabitants of our region and some 80 percent of them approve of such activity by the Cossacks because it led to a visible decrease of street crime," Perenizhko said, adding the men on patrols will not be armed. (Editing by Alison Williams)