Plots, Plots & More Plots

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Zhirinovsky: This is nothing original to me. I am just passing on propaganda. ((But)) the fact is that a majority of people who made the ((Bolshevik)) Revolution possible, as well as perestroika, were of Jewish origin. In fact, the first Soviet government was almost 90% Jewish. Those who first ran the Gulag prison camps were mostly Jewish, although they were later wiped out by Stalin, because they were Jews.

TIME: You seem to be saying that a Jewish Russian cannot be a good Russian.

Zhirinovsky: No, this is possible. I'm just trying to explain certain attitudes in Russian society. If you look at the main theaters in Moscow, a majority of the directors are people of Jewish origin . . .

TIME: So what, if they are talented?

Zhirinovsky: Yes, I quite agree with you. I'm just stating a common point of view in Russia. Certain anti-Semitic sentiments have been created, because there are people occupying ((prominent positions)) who are living much better under the present conditions in Russia.

TIME: Do you think there will be a coup before the elections in 1996?

Zhirinovsky: ((Those who are now in power)) are afraid of elections. A part of these democratic forces realize they would lose and are trying to introduce a state of emergency and postpone elections for 10 years or so. There is a great possibility of a military coup in the next six months, and again, the Jews will have a say in it. One of the candidates for the head of the military regime is General Boris Gromov, a hero of the war in Afghanistan. His second wife is Jewish. When his first wife, who was Russian, died, this woman was brought to his attention through certain ((Jewish)) circles.

TIME: It's impossible to listen to you without hearing continual allegations of a Jewish conspiracy.

Zhirinovsky: If we were talking about historical events dated some 50 years ago, I would have my doubts. But this is what is happening in Moscow before my very own eyes. You are far away and have a different civilization. It was always difficult for an outsider to understand what is going in Russia in the right way.