Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 13, 1994 TAG: 9402160332
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW LENGTH: Medium
So, what exactly is a fascist, and does Zhirinovsky qualify?
The dictionary says fascism arose in Italy in 1922 and was adopted by the Nazis in Germany. Its main traits are one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under government control, belligerent nationalism, racism and militarism.
Zhirinovsky has, at one time or another, advocated all of those.
He has said that, if he becomes president, he will ban all other parties. ``I say it quite plainly: When I come to power, there will be a dictatorship,'' he said in late 1991.
He has threatened to oppress large portions of the population. ``I may have to shoot 100,000 people, but the other 300 million will live peacefully,'' he said in the same speech.
He speaks in favor of private enterprise, but also of government control of key industries, such as defense. His campaign platform called for an end to the conversion of military factories to civilian production.
His platform says Russia should declare a ``sphere of influence'' over Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. He dreams of Russian troops marching all the way to the Indian Ocean.
He says there are too many Jews on Russian television and contends that Jews are to blame for anti-Semitism.
He has threatened to bomb Germany and Japan and blow radioactive waste over the Baltic states. He has spoken of drinking tea in the Kremlin while Russia's southern neighbors starve.
However, Zhirinovsky also has said he supports multiparty democracy, has denied being racist or anti-Semitic and has promised that ``Russia will never fire a single shot'' in an offensive war.
``I am no fascist,'' he said after the Dec. 12 elections. ``On the contrary, I have always tried to fight for defending human rights. I have not allowed myself a single extremist escapade in my life.''
by CNB