Visitors to next February's Winter Olympics in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi will be subject to extra tough registration rules.
According to a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and published Friday, both Russian citizens and foreigners staying in Sochi between January 7 and March 21 need to register with authorities within three days.
Normally, only foreigners need to register with Russia's migration service if they stay longer than seven working days at any place of residence.
However, these rules do not apply for hotels or guesthouses, who are obliged to register guests on the day of arrival.
Putin's order also explicitly excludes holders of Olympic accreditations like athletes and coaches, whom the President granted a visa waiver earlier this year.
In August, the Kremlin announced drastic entry restrictions for motor vehicles and a total ban on demonstrations in Sochi during the Games, which are scheduled for February 7-23, followed by the Paralympics.
Critics say that the drastic measures will put Sochi and the region under siege, but officials have justified them with terrorist threats. Doku Umarov, a self-declared leader of the Islamist insurgency that is plaguing the neighbouring North Caucasus region, this summer called for attacks against the Olympics.
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