Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, today met in Dushanbe with a group of Tajik journalists. He noted that he has always treated Tajik President Emomali Rahmon with respect.
“Emomali Rahmon is one of the respected politicians and one of the respected presidents within the post-Soviet area,” LDPR leader said.
Answering Asia-Plus question about prospects of relations between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation, Zhirinovsky said, “Tajikistan has huge resources in energy sector and labor market while Russia has huge financial opportunities.”
“We ought to unite these resources and both Moscow and Dushanbe will profit from it,” LDPR leader noted.
Besides, Zhirinovsky said that his party will initiate in the near future a law on giving special status to Tajiks in Russia.
“After adoption of this law, no one policeman can stop Tajik nationals in Russia for no reason. Besides, there will be no need for declaring amnesty for Tajik labor migrants deported for a minor violation of Russia’s legislation,” he noted.
He further stated that the LDPR will finance construction of a Russian-language school and a migrant worker resource center in Dushanbe.
LDPR leader has opposed the proposal by some Russian politicians to impose a visa regime on Tajik nations.
“It is not necessary to impose the visa regime. We must give the green light to Tajik vegetables and fruits to Russia’s markets,” Zhirinovsky stressed.
Asked about the possibility of return of Russian border guards to the Tajik-Afghan border, LDPR leader said, “Instead of this, Russia should assist Tajikistan with strengthening its common border with Afghanistan.”
“Upon return to Moscow, I will apply to the Federal Service of Security (FSB) with proposal to help Tajikistan create dead zones up to 2-3 kilometers in width along its border with Afghanistan so that no one terrorist or smuggler think about violation of Tajik border,” he said.
Commenting on his statement about what he called Russia's Central Asian Federal Region, Russian politician noted that he is for voluntary reunification of the former Soviet republics.
“I am for the union like the European Union. In my opinion, only nations with population of no less than 300 million will survive under the realities of today’s world,” LDPR leader concluded.
Recall, speaking at a public gathering in Moscow on February 23, 2014, Zhirinovsky called for creation of what he called Russia's "Central Asian Federal Region," with a capital that should be known as "Verny."
"Verny" is an old Russian name for what is now Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty.
Zhirinovsky also said in his remarks that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan should be grouped together as subjects of Russia.
Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky (born April 25, 1946) is a Russian ultranationalist politician and leader of the LDPR party (formerly Liberal Democratic Party of Russia). He is fiercely nationalist and has been described as “a showman of Russian politics, blending populist and nationalist rhetoric, anti-Western invective and a brash, confrontational style.” His views have sometimes been described by western media as fascist.
The Liberal Democratic Party was founded in April 1991, becoming the second registered party in the Soviet Union and therefore the first officially sanctioned opposition party.
Zhirinovsky's first political breakthrough came in June 1991 when he came third in Russia's first presidential election, gathering more than six million votes or 7.81%. Afterwards, the LDPR garnered a reputation as an ineffective vehicle for opposition against the government, and one that lacked either credibility or authenticity.
The LDPR gathered 23% of the vote in the 1993 Duma elections and achieved a broad representation throughout the country – the LDPR being the top vote-getter in 64 out of 87 regions.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky is member of the State Duma (1993–present); he was Deputy Chairman of the State Duma (2000–2011) and Liberal Democratic presidential candidate 1991, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018.
