DUSHANBE, April 24, 2013 Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has made an appeal to the State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) regarding anti-Tajik statements made by some Russian politicians recently.
A regular sitting of the fourth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by it head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on April 24.
Tajik parliamentarians made an appeal to the State Duma. The appeal, in particular, notes that there have been bonds of strategic partnership and traditional friendship between Tajikistan and Russia over the whole period of political history.
Unfortunately, some Russian politicians have made biased statements against Tajikistan lately, the appeal said.
Among such biased statements are remarks made by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russian, on April 18 during the Russia-1 television channel’s talk-show Poyedinok (The Duel). “Insulting tone of Zhirinovsky’s remarks does not meet the spirit of traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two nations. Populism Russian politicians and public figures sometimes use may have hard consequences.”
We will recall that Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi summoned Russian Ambassador Yuri Popov on April 23 and handed him a note about the remarks made by Russian nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
The note, in particular, expresses concern about statements made by some high-ranking Russian state officials and public figures against Tajikistan.
According to the note, remarks made by Zhirinovsky during the Russia-1 television channel’s talk-show Poyedinok insult not only the Tajik authorities but also the Tajik people.
“Zhirinovsky, in particular, said in sharp terms that Tajikistan raises rental fees for the Russian military base and in response to that Russia will not accept Tajik nationals for employment any more that will have calamitous consequences for the republic,” the note said.
