MOSCOW - An anti-immigrant campaign by a pro-Kremlin youth group prompted accusations of xenophobia Wednesday, as well as demands that the Russian prosecutor general look into the matter.
The organization, called Mestnye, or Locals, raised eyebrows in late June with a campaign aimed at non-Russian unofficial cab drivers called, "We won't let migrants ride!"
Activists distributed flyers showing a blonde, Slavic-featured young woman refusing a ride from a dark-skinned, heavy-browed taxi driver, with the slogan: "We're not going the same way."
An accompanying flier, posted on the group's website, read: "We call on residents of Moscow and the Moscow region from June 28, 2007, to boycott THAT KIND of private driver."
"Propaganda like this is becoming more and more popular," said Vladimir Slutsker, a member of Russia's upper house of parliament, who asked the Prosecutor General to assess whether the group had violated laws on fueling racism.
"Any propaganda that leaves the space for a racist interpretation has to be examined... It's a very dangerous tendency," he told AFP.
Locals spokeswoman Maria Shapovalova said the campaign "was in no way intended to stoke inter-ethnic hatred," but was meant to raise awareness of taking a ride with illegal immigrants working as taxi drivers.
"If there are accidents, they may flee the scene and not take responsibility," she said.
Unofficial taxi drivers of all ethnic backgrounds are a constant feature of life in Moscow and other large Russian cities.
"The problem of organising taxis and private cabs in Moscow does exist," said Vladimir Platonov, chairman of the Moscow city legislature, who also complained to prosecutors about the campaign.
"But to give that problem a xenophobic character in a multi-ethnic city like Moscow, which has millions of residents, is unacceptable," he said in a statement.
The prosecutor general should respond to the complaints within two weeks, Slutsker said.
Illegal and legal migrants have come under increasing official pressure in Russia, including an April 1 ban on foreigners selling goods in the country's retail markets.
Up to 12 million foreigners are thought to work illegally in Russia.
By Stephen Boykewich
Agence France Presse
