Dressed in black, with a crew cut and dark glasses, Limonov yesterday announced the launching of his new newspaper, Limonka. More than merely a play on its founder's name, the title also means little lemon -- Russian slang for "hand grenade."
Limonov, who describes himself simply as an "extremist," made his name writing tales of alienation and sexual abandon as an ?migr? in New York. Today he spends much of his time in Paris attempting to mobilize his seatless National Bolshevik Party in Russia.
He denied that Limonka is merely an organ for his party, which advocates revolution and calls on citizens to boycott imported goods. Instead, Limonov said its goal is to excite and enrage.
The way to do so, if the first edition is any example, is through an analysis of stylistic differences that separate the "old national-patriotic opposition" from the "new national-patriotic opposition," and a commentary on the vileness of intellectuals.
The newspaper also includes an article on why "national bolshevism" is "the most avant-garde international political movement," and an editorial that mentions the growing need for greater radicalism among the opposition.
Asked how he was funding his paper, Limonov said he has sold copies of his book "Limonov versus Zhirinovsky" at several times the original price. He also said that certain unnamed people have made donations.
Limonov was once closely associated with the nationalist-extremist leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, but he now accuses Zhirinovsky of being too moderate.
He refused to say how many issues of the newspaper he has printed, and said he did not know how much a copy costs at newsstands.
Limonov cites freedom of speech as one of Russia's few blessings today.
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