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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Georgians deported as row deepens | Georgians deported as row deepens |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russia has deported a planeload of Georgians, amid a deepening diplomatic row sparked by Georgia's recent arrest of four alleged Russian spies. | Russia has deported a planeload of Georgians, amid a deepening diplomatic row sparked by Georgia's recent arrest of four alleged Russian spies. |
| An aircraft carrying about 130 Georgians touched down in the capital, Tbilisi, at about 1700 (1300GMT). | |
| The deportations were part of a series of measures taken by Russia over the past few days. | The deportations were part of a series of measures taken by Russia over the past few days. |
| A Russian opposition leader has accused the government of mounting a campaign of discrimination against immigrants. | A Russian opposition leader has accused the government of mounting a campaign of discrimination against immigrants. |
| In a statement, former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, an erstwhile key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the steps amounted to "indecent chauvinistic hysteria", Ekho Moskvy radio reported. | In a statement, former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, an erstwhile key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the steps amounted to "indecent chauvinistic hysteria", Ekho Moskvy radio reported. |
| Sombre return | Sombre return |
| The Georgians were rounded up in police raids over the past few days and accused of immigration offences, according to media reports. | The Georgians were rounded up in police raids over the past few days and accused of immigration offences, according to media reports. |
| One of the deportees told Georgian television her passport had expired but another said his documents were in order. | One of the deportees told Georgian television her passport had expired but another said his documents were in order. |
| The BBC's Matthew Collin at Tbilisi airport said the deported Georgians walked down the ramp from the huge Russian cargo plane carrying whatever possessions they managed to bring with them. | The BBC's Matthew Collin at Tbilisi airport said the deported Georgians walked down the ramp from the huge Russian cargo plane carrying whatever possessions they managed to bring with them. |
| Few seemed happy to be back in Georgia, although one woman knelt down and kissed the ground, he said. | Few seemed happy to be back in Georgia, although one woman knelt down and kissed the ground, he said. |
| Some said they felt they had been deported because they were Georgians, not because they were illegal immigrants, our correspondent added. | Some said they felt they had been deported because they were Georgians, not because they were illegal immigrants, our correspondent added. |
| Meanwhile a Russian plane took more Russians out of Georgia, which Moscow says is now unsafe for its citizens. | Meanwhile a Russian plane took more Russians out of Georgia, which Moscow says is now unsafe for its citizens. |
| Last week, some 100 Russian officials and their families in Georgia were ordered by Moscow to return to Russia. | Last week, some 100 Russian officials and their families in Georgia were ordered by Moscow to return to Russia. |
| Estimates vary but it is believed that at least one million Georgians live in Russia. Many Georgian families depend on the remittances they send home. | Estimates vary but it is believed that at least one million Georgians live in Russia. Many Georgian families depend on the remittances they send home. |
| 'School lists' | 'School lists' |
| Moscow police have also asked schools to draw up lists of pupils with Georgian surnames as part of their search for illegal immigrants, Russian media reported. | Moscow police have also asked schools to draw up lists of pupils with Georgian surnames as part of their search for illegal immigrants, Russian media reported. |
| RUSSIAN REPRISALS Postal and transport links cut between Russia and GeorgiaGeorgian visa regulations tightenedCrackdown on Georgian immigrants accused of immigration offences Russian media concerns Unease grips Georgians | RUSSIAN REPRISALS Postal and transport links cut between Russia and GeorgiaGeorgian visa regulations tightenedCrackdown on Georgian immigrants accused of immigration offences Russian media concerns Unease grips Georgians |
| Alexander Gavrilov, a spokesman for the Moscow education department, said some schools had received the request, which he criticised. | Alexander Gavrilov, a spokesman for the Moscow education department, said some schools had received the request, which he criticised. |
| "If the law enforcement bodies carry out work searching for illegal migrants, it's their business and there is no way schools must be involved in this process," he told Associated Press news agency. | "If the law enforcement bodies carry out work searching for illegal migrants, it's their business and there is no way schools must be involved in this process," he told Associated Press news agency. |
| But a Russian interior ministry spokesman said no such request had been made. | But a Russian interior ministry spokesman said no such request had been made. |
| The latest moves follow a series of Russian reprisals in the wake of the officers' arrests on 27 September. | The latest moves follow a series of Russian reprisals in the wake of the officers' arrests on 27 September. |
| Moscow suspended its pullout from two former Soviet bases in Georgia, severed postal and transport links and cracked down on Georgian-owned businesses in Russia. | Moscow suspended its pullout from two former Soviet bases in Georgia, severed postal and transport links and cracked down on Georgian-owned businesses in Russia. |
| Poll boost | Poll boost |
| Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has accused Moscow of "bullying", received a boost in municipal elections on Friday. | Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has accused Moscow of "bullying", received a boost in municipal elections on Friday. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Why should Russia subsidise Georgia when it fails to consider Russian interests? Robert, New York Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Why should Russia subsidise Georgia when it fails to consider Russian interests? Robert, New York Send us your comments |
| Early results put his United National Movement party well ahead of the opposition, with 66% of the vote. | Early results put his United National Movement party well ahead of the opposition, with 66% of the vote. |
| Tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi have grown since the early 1990s, with Tbilisi accusing Moscow of supporting separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. | Tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi have grown since the early 1990s, with Tbilisi accusing Moscow of supporting separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |
| Russia has accused Georgia of pursuing an anti-Russian foreign policy in seeking closer relations with the West and Nato. | Russia has accused Georgia of pursuing an anti-Russian foreign policy in seeking closer relations with the West and Nato. |