DUSHANBE, April 24, 2013, Asia-Plus – 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, 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.
“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.
It is not the first time that Russian ambassador is summoned to the MFA over Zhirinovsky’s statements. On June 7, 2010, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi summoned Ambassador Popov and handed him a protest note about remarks made by Zhirinovsky and Russian chief public health inspector Gennady Onishchenko.
Zhirinovsky said in May 2010 that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have failed as independent states and should be incorporated into the Russian Federation as the ninth federal district.
