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| Trading ban targets non-Russians | Trading ban targets non-Russians |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russia has banned all foreigners from working as retailers in its shops and markets under a new law which came into force on Sunday. | Russia has banned all foreigners from working as retailers in its shops and markets under a new law which came into force on Sunday. |
| Up to 20,000 non-Russians currently work in Moscow markets alone in a tradition going back to Soviet times. | Up to 20,000 non-Russians currently work in Moscow markets alone in a tradition going back to Soviet times. |
| President Vladimir Putin said earlier that the interests of Russian citizens were at stake. | President Vladimir Putin said earlier that the interests of Russian citizens were at stake. |
| Migrant groups have condemned the law, passed after ethnic violence last year, as unfair and unworkable. | Migrant groups have condemned the law, passed after ethnic violence last year, as unfair and unworkable. |
| People have really begun to emerge from the shadow [economy] - it's very good Vyacheslav Postavnin Enforcing migrant quotas | |
| While foreigners will not be allowed to sell directly they still have the right to work in markets as loaders, cleaners, wholesalers or managers, according to an official from the Russian Federal Migration Service, Vyacheslav Postavnin. | While foreigners will not be allowed to sell directly they still have the right to work in markets as loaders, cleaners, wholesalers or managers, according to an official from the Russian Federal Migration Service, Vyacheslav Postavnin. |
| The law was introduced after a number of incidents, but chiefly unrest in the northern town of Kondopoga where two local men were killed in a brawl with ethnic Chechens. | The law was introduced after a number of incidents, but chiefly unrest in the northern town of Kondopoga where two local men were killed in a brawl with ethnic Chechens. |
| Price rise fears | Price rise fears |
| This law has changed the face of retail in Russia, the BBC's James Rodgers reports from Moscow. | This law has changed the face of retail in Russia, the BBC's James Rodgers reports from Moscow. |
| Markets provided jobs for people from poorer countries if they were willing to work long hours, often for low pay, | Markets provided jobs for people from poorer countries if they were willing to work long hours, often for low pay, |
| But that is now is illegal. Anyone working in a shop or on a stall has to hold Russian citizenship. | But that is now is illegal. Anyone working in a shop or on a stall has to hold Russian citizenship. |
| Officials responsible for enforcing the law say they are not planning any major operations to coincide with the new deadline. | Officials responsible for enforcing the law say they are not planning any major operations to coincide with the new deadline. |
| They believe market administrators will make sure the law is observed. | They believe market administrators will make sure the law is observed. |
| Russian media reports have warned of price rises as a consequence of the new law but the authorities insist that any increases are due to inflation. | Russian media reports have warned of price rises as a consequence of the new law but the authorities insist that any increases are due to inflation. |
| Migration clampdown | Migration clampdown |
| The new law is the latest in a series on immigration. | The new law is the latest in a series on immigration. |
| On 15 January, migrants from CIS member-states coming to Russia under a visa-free regime were banned from selling alcohol and pharmaceuticals. | On 15 January, migrants from CIS member-states coming to Russia under a visa-free regime were banned from selling alcohol and pharmaceuticals. |
| Ahead of 1 April, the number of foreigners working in Russian markets was reduced to 40% of the workforce. | Ahead of 1 April, the number of foreigners working in Russian markets was reduced to 40% of the workforce. |
| Mr Postavnin said the new legislation was aimed at combating the shadow economy. | Mr Postavnin said the new legislation was aimed at combating the shadow economy. |
| "People have really begun to emerge from the shadow - it's very good," he told Russian news agency Itar-Tass. | "People have really begun to emerge from the shadow - it's very good," he told Russian news agency Itar-Tass. |
| Your comments | |
| Actually in the retail markets in Moscow and other Russian cities work people who came from former USSR republics mainly from Azerbaijan (they are owners or managers of the business), Uzbekistan (mostly they are salespeople) and Tajikistan (they work as a cleaners and loaders). I know some market guys here in Moscow who had been deported back to home because of absence of permission to work legally in Moscow (but real reason was that they refused to pay bribe to local policeman). They had their own fruit selling business and they hired even Russian woman to work as seller. I wonder why Russian authorities try to prevent such hardworking people for whom Russia really need, who can be basis of fuel to develop small business and whole economy as well. Anz, Moscow | |
| As a citizen of Slovenia, living in Moscow for many years, I can witness that dominance of non-Russians on local Russian markets is main reason for high prices. Ethnic mafias prevent local producers to sell directly.Just Rugel, Moscow | |
| Are you affected by this new law? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you affected by this new law? Send us your comments using the form below. |