World press on security measures in Russia on the eve of the Olympics (January 9, 2013)

"Kremlin locks down Sochi, but neighborhood still looks dangerous" is an article published today by the Christian Science Monitor. 

"The scope of reported police activity is immense, underscoring authorities' jitters in the wake of two devastating attacks in the southern transport hub of Volgograd that killed 34 people just before the New Year. Though the Olympic city of Sochi itself has been transformed into a fortress and virtually cut off from regular connections with the world by a massive security operation that began this week, much of the surrounding area seethes with potential threats," the article reads.

Commenting on dead bodies found in cars in the Stavropol Territory, the newspaper suggests that "the region's local criminal gangs, whose activities are sometimes difficult to distinguish from terrorism, might be to blame."

"In Astrakhan, a region just to the northeast of the troubled Caucasus zone, police are rounding up scores of wives and widows of known Islamist insurgents. They fear the women might become "black widow" suicide bombers... A powerful pipe bomb, packed with shrapnel, was reportedly found in the dacha [country cottage] of one, Viktoria Volkova, the widow of an ethnic Russian-turned-Islamist-rebel killed by security forces in nearby Dagestan in 2012. Ms. Volkova, who is under arrest, reportedly told police that the "infernal device" had belonged to her husband and she knew nothing of it."

"Sochi 2014: A Security Challenge" is another article on the topic published today by the Forbes.

"Though the 2014 games seemingly offer Moscow a perfect platform for showcasing the strength of its security apparatus, Russia will have to work overtime to protect athletes and spectators. This in turn could leave surrounding regions such as the Northern Caucasus and major cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg exposed to militancy, terrorism and organized crime. Militants from the Caucasus striking elsewhere in Russia during the games to avoid the intense security that will be present in Sochi and to capitalize on news coverage of the highly publicized event pose the greatest threat to the games," the article reads. 

The magazine's article states that "Russian security forces possess the experience and numbers necessary to provide for safe Olympic Games" and provides a detailed analysis of the FSB resources and personnel deployment plans for Sochi. 

Despite that, the article believes that "Even so, areas remain vulnerable to potential disruption. Attempted attacks are likeliest at venues containing large, concentrated numbers of participants, such as the Olympic Park in the heart of the Olympic Coastal Cluster and perhaps the Adler/Sochi airport. Open venues at the games will also be attractive targets, including the venues that make up the Olympic Mountain Cluster, where snowboarding and skiing events will be held. They are located in Krasnaya Polyana and are accessible by bus, high-speed rail and helicopter. Other potential targets include the transportation hubs in Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana, as well as the high-speed rail link connecting the Olympic Coastal Cluster to the Olympic Mountain Cluster."