Zhirinovsky should be punished for "statements on Caucasus" - head of parliamentary committee on nationalities
MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Gadzhimet Safaraliyev a member of the United Russia faction of the State Duma and chairman of the State Duma committee on nationalities, said parliamentarians will support the submission of amendments to the current legislation in order to ensure that Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky is punished for his statements on the "Caucasus issue" if he cannot be prosecuted under the law on extremism.
"On Tuesday, I will ask the Prosecutor General's Office to decide whether the statements made by Zhirinovsky [on the television program Poyedinok] fall under the law on extremism. If the response is positive, we will insist that a criminal case be opened," Safaraliyev told Interfax on Monday.
If the prosecutors do not see any grounds for opening a criminal case in accordance with the current legislation, amendments need to be made to the law, Safaraliyev said.
Safaraliyev said parliamentarians are now collecting signatures for their address to the Prosecutor General's Office. "However, because many deputies are now in the regions, because this week is intended for meetings with voters, not all people who want to sign the document can sign it," he said.
