Belgium Refuses to Grant Visa to Ultranationalist from Russia

Belgium has refused to grant an entry visa to Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky because he poses a “possible danger for public order,’ an Interior Ministry spokesman here said.

Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Russian Liberal-Democratic Party, and his Russian delegation had been invited by the European Union to take part in a two-day meeting here.

He was to address the European Parliament, the legislative arm of the European Union, this week.

Constanza Krehl, a German Socialist member of the European Parliament, said she had asked for a visa for Zhirinovsky to discuss with him such topics as Chechnya, European security, Bosnia and E.U.-Russian cooperation.

“I understand the Belgium decision, but I fear that this refusal would be misinterpreted” by the Russian public, Krehl reportedly said.

In a recent debate on Bosnia in the Russian Parliament, Zhirinovsky was involved in a brawl with a female colleague.

Last year, he threw plants and spat at Jewish protesters after a meeting with European lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.

Zhirinovsky has also blamed Jews for pushing Russians out of the former Soviet republics.

Pauline Green, chairwoman of the European Socialist group, said she did not agree with the Belgian decision.

“We don’t like the man’s politics but we were looking forward to the chance to take him on politically,’ she reportedly said in a statement.

Meanwhile, David Duke, a Louisiana Republican and former Ku Klux Klan leader, said he met with Zhirinovsky on Tuesday in Russia.

Duke, a former Louisiana state legislator who has aspired to become president of the United States, said he and Zhirinovsky had a lot in common.

Duke was reportedly in Russia to help a Louisiana missionary who has been under house arrest there in connection with alleged currency violations.