http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 09,00.html

Putin orders illegal immigrant crackdown
By Oleg Shchedrov in Moscow
October 06, 2006
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin ordered his ministers to protect Russia's "native population" by cracking down on illegal immigrants and markets where many traders are non-Russians.

Mr Putin said there was a need to reduce ethnic tensions after a spate of violent clashes involving immigrants.

His remarks coincided with a standoff with Georgia in which immigration restrictions have been imposed on the former Soviet republic and police have raided Georgian businesses in Russia. Georgians are prominent at Russian markets.

"There is one word to describe things that are happening in the markets - lawlessness," Mr Putin said.