Panel Urges Zhirinovsky Investigation

Russia’s election commission called Saturday for an investigation of ultranationalist Vladimir V. Zhirinovsky, saying he incited ethnic hatred and encouraged violence in legislative campaign speeches.

The Central Election Commission also warned Zhirinovsky that it may ask the Supreme Court to revoke the registration of his party’s candidates for Dec. 17 elections if such violations continue, the Interfax news agency said.

Ironically, a scandal could boost the popularity of Zhirinovsky’s Liberal Democratic Party. Shortly before the 1993 elections, a purported television expose of Zhirinovsky effectively served as an advertisement, and his party ended up as the top vote-getter.

The commission’s appeal for an investigation came after an informal court denounced TV statements by Zhirinovsky and extreme nationalist Nikolai Lysenko as a “gross violation of the constitution,” election laws and moral standards.

Zhirinovsky and Lysenko often condemn the dark-skinned people of the Caucasus region and Central Asia as leaders of Russia’s organized crime. The two politicians also have been accused of anti-Semitism.