While many are vying for political reform in Russia, outspoken politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky has his own idea of what the country needs — an omnipotent emperor.
"I am not saying: find an heir to [imperial dynasty] the Romanovs. Maybe we could choose an emperor, a tsar for 10 years. And every 10 years we would change him," Zhirinovsky said, according to a transcript on his Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) website.
Zhirinovsky, speaking at a State Duma tribune on Monday, added that Russia was not a good fit for communism or democracy and that the only way for the country to develop would be under a strong monarchy.
"Under the guise of a monarchy — some kind of institute of power — we will develop the country, hard, mobilized, aggressively, most of all in our outward communication," Zhirinovsky said, according to the LDPR transcript.
"Russia has a great future ahead of it, but only if we take the hardest line on all topics," he said.
To summarize his thoughts, Zhirinovsky said of his preferred system: "It would be a variant of democracy, but all power should be vested [in the emperor]."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.