RUSSIA: Moscow officials have launched an attack on the Lonely Planet guidebook, saying the backpackers' guide portrays the Russian capital as gangster-infested and presents an image of the city that is at least 15 years out of date.
One television channel said the guide suggested that "life in the Russian capital is determined by the laws of the jungle. Foreigners are being warned: criminals, Aids and mites are raging in Moscow and shops are full of fake vodka."
The 258-page guide lauds Moscow's beauty and history, but notes the city is "riddled with corruption".
It highlights the business interests of the mayor, Yury Luzhkov, saying he is "as much a chief executive as he is a mayor" and has gained popularity with a "bread and circuses" approach to satisfying Muscovites.
Criticism of the book comes as city officials launch a €21 million initiative to improve Moscow's image abroad.
They have expressed anger at foreign stereotypes of the city, including a recent survey by a British consultancy, Mercer HR, which suggested Moscow was the most expensive city in the world.