The penny-pinching leader of Russia’s Communist Party has made a cheeky appeal to his members – asking them to bale him out of a hefty $19,000 lawsuit.

Gennady Zyuganov is begging members to chip in one rouble each to cover the 450,000 rouble bill.

A court ruled he had to pay up after making abusive comments in the media about Kemerovo region governor, Aman Tuleyev, during an election campaign last year.

But it seems Zyuganov doesn’t want to foot the bill, which amounts to over half his annual salary.

He is paid just over 850,000 roubles, or $36,000, according to a report published last year by the Central Election Commission.

The State Duma deputy, Andrey Isaev, from the United Russia party believes there is nothing new in the Communists’ behaviour.

“As always, ordinary party members and supporters have to pay for their leaders’ words and actions,” he said. “It’s so typical of the Communist Party. Thankfully, this time they want only their party members to take part in the payment, but not all the citizens of the country, as it had been for 70 years”.

But the Communists believe the issue is “party-wide” and say the decision to ask their supporters for help is justified.

However, an official address to all the party to members to help will only be published if their appeal against the judgement fails.

Meanwhile the Kemerovo region governor is reportedly planning to donate the money to charity.