Kyrgyzstan files protest note for Russian MP Zhirinovsky’s statement

Kyrgyzstan has filed a protest note to the Russian Foreign Ministry, asking for explanations about Russian Vice Speaker of Parliament Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s statement, RIA Novosti reports.

At a meeting on February 23, Zhirinovsky proposed formation of the so-called Middle Asian Federal District consisting of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The Kyrgyz protest note says that the statement does not meet the spirit of Russian-Kyrgyz strategic partnership. Kyrgyzstan expects Russia to evaluate Zhirinovsky’s words in the context of Russian-Kyrgyz relations.

Kyrgyz MPs expressed “deep disappointment” over the legislator’s words and noted that they did not comply with the spirit of integration within the framework of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. A resolution making Zhirinovsky a persona non grata was passed by Kyrgyz MPs on May 15, 2013.