MOSCOW, April 13 From a stall inside the Rizhskiy vegetable market, Rustam K. Umarov conducts an illegal trade in oregano, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, saffron powder and shish kebab marinade.
Under a government decree that took effect April 1, Mr. Umarov, as a citizen of Uzbekistan, has been banned from working as a vendor at any of Russias 5,200 markets, which were a mainstay for groceries and household goods through the 1990s and that still account for a fifth of all retail trade here.
It does not matter that he is a legal immigrant. Under the decree, seen as one of the more draconian anti-immigrant measures in Europe, only Russian citizens can sell vegetables. They are happy to buy my spices, but in the street there is hate for immigrants, Mr. Umarov said, spooning dried mint leaves into a bag with practiced care.
-Snip
Poster Comment:
It seems Pootie-Poot is putting Russia First, unlike Herr Bush.
Gotta love the pro immigrant slant of the NY Fishwrap.
Love it.