Leaders of Russia's gypsy community say France's expulsions of Roma gypsies violate European Union law and have vowed to support their compatriots.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a campaign against camps of illegal immigrants in the country. France pays for plane tickets to an individual's country of origin and offers those who leave the country voluntarily cash payments of about $420 per adult and $130 per child.
However, an internal Interior Ministry document that came to light last week showed that gypsies were being targeted. It said 300 illegal camps have to be cleared within three months, "the priority, those of the Roma".
Sarkozy maintains the expulsions are aimed at fighting crime and illegal immigration, but the leaked document has sparked criticism from Roma groups and human rights organizations across Europe and protests in French society.
Officially, more than 180,000 Roma live in Russia, although unofficial figures put their number as high as 1 million. Roma organizations in Russia have expressed their outrage over the situation in France.
RIA Novosti
