Vladimir Zhirinovsky's Russian Liberal-Democratic Party (LDPR) has advised crisis-stricken Greece to join the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
“With a view to the deterioration of the situation in Greece and the impossibility of resolving the negative political situation...the LDPR judges it expedient to invite Athens to apply for membership in the CIS,” a statement issued by the misleadingly named party says.
On Thursday, at least 200 anarchists attacked police in central Athens with stones and Molotov cocktails but failed to disrupt peaceful protests against austerity measures, police said.
The riot took place on the second day of a 48-hour general strike timed to coincide with a vote on additional austerity, including more tax hikes, pay cuts and job losses.
The CIS, a loose association of former Soviet republics, consists of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine has not ratified the CIS Charter but participates in its activities.
“We are confident that Russia could find ways out of this economic dead-end into which EU requirements have forced Greece,” the party’s statement said.
The Greek government is seeking new terms for its $158-billion EU-IMF bailout amid reports that the country might need additional aid.
Athens is planning further measures to save some $33 billion through 2015. The country's total debt has ballooned to $490 billion.
