AFX News Limited Russia to ban foreigners from retail markets
11.15.2006, 08:27 PM
MOSCOW (XFN-ASIA) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said foreigners will be temporarily banned from retail vending next year to encourage Russians to take up jobs in the sector.
Starting Jan 1, foreigners will no longer be authorized to sell alcohol and medicines, and from April 1 until the end of 2007 they will be banned from any type of retail vending in Russian markets, Fradkov said.
The move follows a call by President Vladimir Putin for more Russians to take up jobs in the country's markets, where stallholders are often from ex-Soviet republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
'For retail, that's the right decision,' Putin said at yesterday's meeting with Fradkov at a presidential residence near Moscow, which was broadcast on Russian television.
'It's not a sector of the economy that is lacking in labor force. We have enough. And even if you extend it beyond 2007, I don't see why that should change,' Putin added.
Many Russians complain about foreigners working at the country's food and retail markets and protest against high levels of immigration in the country.
afp/mas
Poster Comment:
God bless Putin (and his big gonads), the savior of restored Russia.