Poland Summons Russian Ambassador Over Zhirinovsky Remarks

The Polish Foreign Ministry on August 13 summoned the Russian ambassador to protest remarks by Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

Speaking on state Rossiya 24 television last week, Zhirinovsky said that Poland and the Baltic states would be "wiped out" should a war break out between Russia and the West.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski said the remarks were "scandalous."

He said Zhirinovsky, a lawmaker and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, "is neither a backbencher nor a private person."

Zhirinovsky is known for his outrageous comments.

His latest remarks come with relations between Russia and the West strained over Moscow's annexation of Crimea in March and its perceived support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Based on reporting by dpa and AP