Georgia woes worry Russian press

As Moscow tightens controls on Georgians, Russian papers warn of the dangers of overreacting in the row sparked by Georgia's arrest of four alleged Russian spies.

Some dailies observe that the affair will have major knock-on effects for migration policy, with one paper suggesting that Russian nationalists will be the only winners.

DEMIS POLANDOV IN GAZETA

An aggressive anti-Georgian hysteria is gaining momentum. Like dogs that have broken loose, Russian bureaucrats of all ranks have rushed to fight a new "criminal nationality". Searches in restaurants, the closure of casinos, the threat of deportation hanging over hundreds of thousands of people - if this isn't ethnic cleansing, I don't know what it is.

SHOD MULADZHANOV IN MOSKOVSKAYA PRAVDA

The country's reputation and dignity should of course be reinforced, but not with hysterics or digs at a clearly weaker opponent. This should be done through the build-up of economic potential, wise foreign and domestic politics and stable movement towards the best examples of democracy. We would then reap friends, not enemies.

EDITORIAL IN KOMMERSANT

The only victory won so far in the conflict with Georgia is the victory of revanchist and nationalist sentiments inside Russia.

GEORGIY KUPATADZE IN MOSKOVSKIYE NOVOSTI

The Russian sanctions against Georgia are mainly aimed at stopping the slide towards war... at cooling the blood of the Georgian authorities and showing that Russia has instruments of influence and is prepared to use them.

BORIS GROZOVSKIY IN VEDOMOSTI

The conflict with Georgia is producing radical changes in Russian migration policy.

YULIYA TARATUTA IN KOMMERSANT

Migration legislation is becoming one of the most powerful instruments of political pressure.

ANDREY SEDOV IN KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA

This is already becoming Vladimir Putin's mode of operation: the president turns any rash move against Russia into radical reforms inside the country.

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