Install

Get the latest updates as we post them — right on your browser

Today's paper. Last Updated: 05/31/2012

Zhirinovsky Eyes Japan

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, Far East () -- Ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky said Thursday that Russia would invade the Japanese island of Hokkaido unless Japan abandons its claims to the disputed Kuril Islands.


"We will establish a good Russian naval base on Hokkaido," Zhirinovsky said on Sakhalin Island, which he visited while barnstorming across Russia's Far East.


Hokkaido lies just south of Sakhalin, once a closed island fortress during the Cold War. Japan occupied the southern tip of Sakhalin until World War II, when Soviet soldiers evicted its forces and also seized the nearby Kuril Islands.


Zhirinovsky's current trip was aimed at boosting his popularity, which has sagged amid disappointment that he has failed to carry out similar promises made during last year's parliamentary campaign.







This article has no comments.

Be the first to leave a comment


Discussion
The Moscow Times welcomes your comments and invites you to discuss topics with other readers. Your comment will be posted automatically to enable a live discussion. If you aren't familiar with our comments policy, you can read it here.

If you're a registered user, you can start typing your comment below. If not, take a moment to sign up. and then return to the article.

If your comment doesn't appear, contact us by using our web form.

Comments

Comments via Facebook



print


Comments

This article has no comments.

Be the first to leave a comment





Most Read