Vladimir Zhirinovsky is an anti-Semitic Russian politician the leader of the far right ultranationalist LDPR. Infamous for his aggressive political behavior, Zhirinovsky runs on a platform that is both populist and strongly xenophobic.
The LDPR has consistently been represented in the Russian parliament since the early 1990s. In the 2008 presidential election, Zhirinovsky came in third, while gathering over 9% of the popular vote. The LDPR's ideology can be described as a mix of isolationism and a belief in a strong authoritative government.
Throughout his career, Zhirinovsky has made numerous anti-Semitic public statements. He has often charged the Jews of ruining Russia. His accusations against Jews include selling children and organs abroad, trafficking Russian women into foreign sex trade and provoking the Holocaust. Zhirinovsky has also openly praised Nazism.
In 2001, Zhirinovsky protested a moment of silence for the Jewish victims of World War II, which he claimed to be an insult to the Russian casualties of the war. In a speech in New York in 2002, he suggested Jewish involvement in the September 11th terrorist attacks, claiming that 4,000 Jews deliberately skipped work that day. Once during a stay in Paris, Zhirinovsky threw flower pots from his hotel window at a group of Jews protesting his visit.
Perhaps one of the most disturbing facts about Zhirinovsky is that his father was Jewish. Having denied this for years, Zhirinovsky admitted his Jewish roots in 2001. He went on to reject it as being relevant to his identity, as he stated, "Why should I reject Russian blood, Russian culture, Russian land, and fall in love with the Jewish people only because of that single drop of blood that my father left in my mother's body?”
Some political analysts believe that Zhirinovsky's anti-Semitism is purely an act. If he is merely an opportunist, Zhirinovsky shows the success with which anti-Semitic rhetoric can be used to reel in supporters, even when coming from someone with Jewish roots.
Ninety percent of lawyers, doctors and business people in Russia are Jews, so obviously Russian people have reasons to hate Jews.
