During today's news conference Russian President Vladimir Putin called NGOs and media to join in struggle against xenophobia and nationalism. In his words, it's the issue of concern for the authorities and public. "I think this phenomenon has many reasons and first of all it's conditioned by some bewilderment and ideological vacuum that emerged after the USSR decline and the sense of infringement of the basic national groups," the Russian President said. He noted with regret that appropriate bodies sometimes react inadequately to such phenomena. However, according to him, one of the reasons is that despite the USSR collapse and open borders between the former soviet republics the problems of the labor market have often been settled not in the interests of the Russian aborigine population.

"The authorities should have settled the problems long ago by ensuring the interests both of Russian citizens and foreigners, who are often deprived of their rights. Such circumstances arouse xenophobia and nationalism and should be extirpated. I am hopeful we will do it together," the Russian President resumed.