Anti-Immigrant Patrols

From the RT:
"Outrage over ‘anti-immigrant patrols’ in southern Russia"

The governor of one of Russia’s southern regions has been accused of discrimination and nationalism for a proposal to deploy patrols to tackle immigration issues in the Caucuses region. Human rights activists blasted the governor for his statements. Governor Aleksandr Tkachev of the Krasnodar region came under fire after a meeting with regional police chiefs on Thursday, where he announced the establishment of a 1,000-member Cossack-staffed volunteer security force. With an annual budget of more than $20 million, the organization would assist police in upholding public order, beginning in September. The force would consist of Kuban Cossacks, a multi-ethnic group descended from farmers, who historically acted as border guards for the Russian Empire. They enjoyed a great degree of political autonomy, both as gratitude for their service and in acknowledgement of their self-sufficiency and militant ethos. Tkachev waded into the hot-button issue of ethnic tension, calling on police officers to embrace their future Cossack partners. The Krasnodar region is predominantly Russian, although roughly one-fifth of its population is of non-Russian ethnicity and have been residing there for decades.  Krasnodar borders Russia’s North Caucasus, a conflict-ridden region plagued by high unemployment, forcing its non-Russian Muslim population to head elsewhere to make a living. The influx of migrants has resulted in conflict ranging from cultural disagreements to organized crime and violence. Tkachev argued that Cossacks patrolling the streets of the region alongside police would send a warning to potential criminals: The local population supports the police.

^ I think it is a little hypocritical to create an anti-immigrant/anti-non-Russian force made up of non-Russians. Cossacks are not ethnic Russians and so anyone against non-Russians should, in theory, also be against Cossacks. Despite it being hypocritical I also think it is a very bad idea and only enhances other countries' and people's views that Russia is anti-foreigner and anti-Western. With the Olympics going to be held in Sochi (which is in Krasnodar Krai) Russia should be portraying itself as open to other cultures and people. This patrol does just the opposite. ^

http://rt.com/politics/cossack-anti-immigrant-patrol-857/