Russian LDPR Leader Zhirinovsky Dies at 75

Russian far-right politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky died in a Moscow hospital, the lower-house State Duma confirmed on Wednesday. He was 75.

Zhirinovsky founded Russia’s far-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) and led it for over 30 years. He had been gravely ill for weeks after contracting Covid-19, despite claiming to have received eight vaccine doses, according to Russian media reports.

Last month, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin denied reports of the death of the LDPR leader.

“I want to reassure everyone who is worried about the health of Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky. He is alive,” Volodin said.

The condition of the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party is “really difficult”, “today he underwent a CT scan.” “We are worried about him, the doctors are fighting for him. He himself is a great fellow,” the speaker of the State Duma said.