The Most Liberal Man in Russia

THE MOST LIBERAL MAN Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky (born April 25, 1946) is a Russian politician and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. He proposed setting up large fans on the borders to blow airborne radioactive waste into the Baltic states. In a 2003 video, a drunken Zhirinovsky threatened George W. Bush in offensive language. He called the United States a "second-hand goods store" filled with "cocksuckers, handjobbers, and faggots", and claimed that Russian scientists are able to change the gravitational field of the Earth and sink the entire country. On 4 April 2014, in the wake of the annexation of Crimea, the franchises of the fast-food restaurant McDonald's were unable to continue because they had been cut off by their Ukrainian franchisor. Zhirinovsky suggested that McDonald's "should be evicted from Russia" for the affront. On 23 August 2014, he voiced the opinion that Russia ought to abolish political parties in favour of an autocratic system in which the leader would be chosen by the "five to six thousand wise people" in the country. He also proposed returning to the Imperial flag and anthem. In the same year, he threatened Washington with a Russian attack while giving a speech to listeners. In February 2015, he suggested to "burn all Paris" and "storm Berlin" during a speech at the Duma. IN RUSSIA

A screenshot-styled meme presents Vladimir Zhirinovsky as “the most liberal man in Russia,” followed by an encyclopedia-like list of his extreme political statements and proposals. The joke is sarcastic: the headline uses “liberal” ironically, contrasting the word with his authoritarian views, threats, profanity, and absurd geopolitical ideas. It is used as a reaction to political hypocrisy, extreme rhetoric, or someone being called liberal despite holding very illiberal opinions.

• @sbunem / 44510 2023-04-08