MOSCOW — They are ubiquitous in Russia and many East European capitals: small islands of capitalism where residents can purchase an apple, a newspaper, some nylons or a new cellphone cover. And now they’re under assault here in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.In a move that has sparked an uproar, city authorities here have sent in bulldozers to tear down kiosks housing bakeries, florists, cellphone dealers and other shops in a frenzy of destruction that came just months after Mr. Putin ironically stressed the importance of small businesses and entrepreneurship for the country’s battered economy.
