Russian Officials Warn Of Film Production Sparking Ethnic Tensions

KRASNODAR -- The legislature of Russia's Krasnodar Krai plans to ask the Culture Ministry to stop the production of a film about the 19th century Russian war in the North Caucasus, RFE/RL's Russian and North Caucasus Services report.

The Krasnodar Krai deputies say scenes depicting a battle in which "thousands" of Circassians kill a handful of Russian Cossacks and the movie's Russian heroine are not true to history and could trigger ethnic tensions in the region.

Krasnodar Krai Deputy Governor Viktor Chernyavsky refused to comment on the legislature's appeal.

Adygeya region Deputy Mugdin Chermit said that "somebody from abroad" is trying to enflame ethnic tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, the film's producer says the battle scene was revised prior to the lawmakers' appeal and the controversial footage was cut out from the script.