Moscow - the economic pain from Georgia's conflict with Russia has spread to the biggest cities in Russia. Wealthy Georgian business leaders in Russia have tried to stay out of this conflict, but it has already hurt their businesses. Many casinos and night clubs in Moscow, including the popular "Golden Palace" and "Metelitsa," are owned by Georgian businessmen. In the past, police and sanitary inspectors had an understanding with the owners and overlooked multiple code violations. Last week many night clubs and casinos were closed for running casino tables and playing machines without permits and operating unsanitary kitchens.

RIA Novosti story headline:
"Even NATO can't pull Georgia out of this swamp"

Earlier today, 143 illegal immigrants from Georgia were deported by plane to Tbilisi. At the same time, 175 Russian citizens were evacuated from Georgia; another evacuation flight is scheduled to pick up Russians in Georgia on October 9. Georgian artists from the national ballet group Suhishvili-Ramishvili canceled their tour in Russia due to the transportation blockade. Even the famous Georgian artist Tsereteli, a friend of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, is being accused of embezzling funds from government-funded art projects.