Zhirinovsky's statements jeopardize Kyrgyz accession to Customs Union - parliamentarian
BISHKEK. Feb 25 (Interfax) - The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry is preparing a response to statements by Russian Liberal Democratic Party leader and State Duma member Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev told the parliamentary international affairs committee in Bishkek on Tuesday.
"In his speech over the situation in Ukraine yesterday Zhirinovsky expressed doubts about the independent status of Central Asian countries. He said Russia must 'hold in its fist' not just Ukraine, but Central Asian countries as well," the foreign minister said.
"A year and a half ago he also made statements with respect to our republic, and we sent a relevant note and declared Zhirinovsky a persona non grata. His latest statement has taken on an emotional facet. We believe a statesman of this rank should be careful in his statements," Abdyldaev said.
"Zhirinovsky's statements jeopardize the implementation of integration processes, in particular, the formation of the Eurasian Economic Space and Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Customs Union," International Affairs Committee Chairman Kanybek Imanaliev said, for his part.
The committee must issue a formal statement over Zhirinovsky's proposal "to limit Central Asian countries by forming them into Russia's Central Asian Federal District," he said. "We are independent, therefore we ask the Russian Federation Council to turn its attention to this politician. He must exercise restraint," Imanaliev said.
Kyrgyz parliamentarians instructed the Foreign Ministry to send a note to the Russian Foreign Ministry for obtaining information regarding Zhirinovsky's statements.
Zhirinovsky was declared a person non grata in Kyrgyzstan after he suggested that the republic pay off its debt to Russia by handing over Lake Issyk-Kul.