DUSHANBE, April 26, 2013, Asia-Plus — Russia’s Foreign Ministry has sent a reply to Tajikistan’s protest note about the remarks made by Russian nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
The Tajik MFA’s websites says the note from the Russian MFA that was issued on April 24, in particular, notes that State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) deputy Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s remarks about Tajikistan and its president are personal views expressed during a talk show on television.
According to the Tajik MFA’s website, the Russia MFA note also says that the comments expressed by Zhirinovsky do not have anything in common with the position of Russia.
The April 24 note from the Russian Foreign Ministry called Tajikistan an ally and strategic partner and says that Russia is seeking further expansion of bilateral cooperation with Tajikistan in all fields.
We will recall that Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi summoned Russian Ambassador Yuri Popov on April 23 and handed him a protest note about the remarks made by Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
The note, in particular, expressed concern about statements made by some high-ranking Russian state officials and public figures against Tajikistan.
According to the note, remarks made by Zhirinovsky, head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russian, on April 18 during the Russia-1 television channel’s talk-show Poyedinok (The Duel) insult not only the Tajik authorities but also the Tajik people.
During the talk-show, Zhirinovsky questioned Tajik authorities’ insistence on Russia paying higher rent for use of three military bases.
“The Tajik Communists are again inflating the price for our base in Tajikistan. The arrogance!” Zhirinovsky said.
“They know Russia has money, ‘pay more.’ We should tell them ‘we will stop taking take your workers that come here for jobs,” said he. “What will the head of the republic Rahmon do then? He knows well that it would be the end for him,” Zhirinovsky said.
“And maybe Afghan Islamists would trample on Tajikistan and they would hang him in the center of Dushanbe, like they did Najibullah,” Zhirinovsky warned.
Tajikistan sent the protest note to Russia on April 23 and deputies in the Tajik parliament also denounced Zhirinovksy’s comments during an April 24 sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament).
