Far-right Russian politician who gave away the exact date of Putin's Ukraine invasion dies 'from Covid-19' - despite boasting he'd had EIGHT jabs - weeks later
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, 75, died only 15 weeks after he announced the invasion date, despite boasting that he had received eight Covid shots since August 2020. Zhirinovsky was admitted to hospital 'seriously ill' with the virus on February 2, six weeks after almost exactly predicted the date Putin would eventually invade Ukraine.
On December 22, 2021, he told MPs in a speech that the invasion would start on 22 February, though it actually began on the evening of February 23, and heralded a 'new direction in Russian foreign policy'. It was Zhirinovsky's last speech in the State Duma and his disappearance came amid rumours he had annoyed the Kremlin by announcing an invasion that Putin wanted to keep quiet about.
State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said announced today that Zhirinovsky died after 'a serious and prolonged illness' and held a minute of silence with the MPs in the house.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, 75, (pictured speaking in the State Duma on December 22, 2021) was admitted to hospital 'seriously ill' with the virus days after almost exactly predicted the date Putin would eventually invade Ukraine, according to Russian media
December 2021: Vladimir Zhirinovsky reveals date of Ukraine invasion
On December 22, 2021, Zhirinovsky told MPs (pictured holding a minutes silence after hearing of his death) in a speech that the invasion would start on 22 February, though it actually began on the evening of February 23, and heralded a 'new direction in Russian foreign policy'
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Vladimir Zhirinovsky gave his last speech in December and his disappearance came amid rumours he had annoyed the Kremlin by announcing an invasion that Putin (pictured together in September 2016) wanted to keep quiet about
The letter V, the Russian forces emblem, is seen on a blown Russian tank turret in the village of Dmytrivka close to Kyiv on April 2
Russian Parliament observes a minute of silence for Zhirinovsky
Zhirinvosky, a candidate in all but one post-Soviet presidential election in Russia, told MPs before falling ill: 'Russia will finally become a great country again. And everyone has to shut up, and respect our country. 'Otherwise they will shut us up, and destroy Russians first in the Donbas, and next in the west of Russia. So let's support the new direction in Russia's foreign policy.'
Parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin today announced the death, having denied earlier reports he had passed away. 'After a serious and prolonged illness, Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky has passed away,' he said, describing Zhirinovsky as a 'bright, talented politician' who 'deeply understood how the world works'. Russian MPs stood to honour the memory of a politician who had stood six times unsuccessfully to be Kremlin leader since the fall of Communism. 'The scale of his personality is such that without him it is difficult to imagine the history of the development of the political system of modern Russia,' parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said in a tribute.
Zhirinvosky was known for provocative stunts and anti-Western tirades that kept him in the public eye for more than three decades. Zhirinovsky is expected to be succeeded by 'poisoner' Andrei Lugovoy, 55, who is wanted in Britain on suspicion of murdering Putin foe Alexander Litvinenko by spiking his tea with deadly radioactive polonium-210 in London in 2006.
A radioactive trail followed Lugovoy, who risks extradition to Britain if he leaves Russia, and co-accused Dmitry Kovtun back to Russia, which refused to extradite the pair to face a murder trial in Britain.
Others vying for the leadership of the Liberal-Democratic party are prominent politician Leonid Slutsky, accused four years ago of sex abuse by a prominent woman TV presenter.
Another candidate is Mikhail Degtyarev who was parachuted by Putin to the role of governor of Khabarovsk region to halt a wave of protests.
Zhirinovsky is expected to be succeeded by 'poisoner' Andrei Lugovoy, 55, (pictured together) who is wanted in Britain on suspicion of murdering Putin foe Alexander Litvinenko by spiking his tea with deadly radioactive polonium-210 in London in 2006
