'I’m Going Nowhere': Caucasus Reserve Director Resigns

Local Telegram channels reported that Sergei Shevelev has resigned as director of the Caucasus Reserve and Sochi National Park.

Jan 26, 2026

Sergei Shevelev has served the Caucasus Reserve for more than four decades.
Source:
npsochi.ru

Sergei Shevelev, director of the Kh.G. Shaposhnikov Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Reserve and acting head of Sochi National Park, has resigned from his positions. This was reported by the Telegram channel «Sochi Geographer».

«I’m not running away… I’m leaving you and going nowhere…,» Shevelev stated, according to sources present at the meeting. Vladimir Titov will act as head of the reserve, and Vladimir Atoyan will act for the national park.
The press service of the Caucasus Reserve neither confirmed nor denied the information.

«There will be a mailing with an official announcement shortly,» they explained.

Recall that Sergei Shevelev has worked at the Caucasus State Reserve since 1983. And in 2023, he also became the head of Sochi National Park, where previously all leaders changed rapidly one after another.

Earlier we wrote that in September, the General Prosecutor«s Office of the Russian Federation conducted an inspection of the activities of both institutions, which revealed damage amounting to over 3 billion rubles (approximately $30 million at current rates).