Luzhkov, Moscow’s deposed king

Yuri Luzhkov, deposed King of Moscow, after 18 years in power, turned gray Soviet capital in a showcase of Russian capitalism model – a dynamic and luxurious, obscure building system combining money and power, writes AFP. This small, rounded and energetic man of 74 years, often wearing leather cap, was appointed head of City Hall in 1992, in the midst of post-Soviet chaos, by the then Russian president Boris Yeltsin. Nationalist who urged Russia to be returned to its Ukrainian city of Sevastopol, Luzhkov demonstrating the Orthodox faith, describing gayparadite as „work of Satan.“ Avid beekeeper, the current mayor of Moscow, which by decree of President Dmitry Medvedev was released early from his post seemed unalterable. In the late 90’s Luzhkov even though it was a serious contender to succeed Yeltsin, who chose „someone“ Vladimir Putin, then unknown to the public. Target of heated criticism in connection with the fires around Moscow in recent weeks on television channels controlled by the Kremlin, Luzhkov was losing momentum, but remain popular, according to a recent study by the independent Center Levada. Over half of Muscovites (52%) want him to stay in office, but 56% of respondents claim that he was „corrupt.“ Luzhkov is married to Elena Baturina, which is 27 years younger, and became the richest woman in Russia. At the beginning of a modest employee at City Hall, Mrs. Baturina is now president of the Russian company Inteko, ruling an empire of real estate market and construction in Moscow. Owner is an estate in Austria, apartments in Spain and Britain. There is a condition estimated by U.S. magazine Forbes to 2,9 billion dollars. It is this wealth has led to accusations of nepotism, but the voice of critics of the mayor hear poorly in Moscow, Luzhkov has won dozens of cases in courts, it’s true, depending on municipality. Corruption penetrated all levels of government. In this system, each clan has lived sector and bribes. Moscow is the most corrupt city in Russia, „he angrily told AFP liberal opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, the author of a report on the affairs of a family-Luzhkov Baturina . Critics accused the mayor and the destruction of several historic buildings, the victim of speculation in the real estate market, and because of his inability to resolve the monstrous traffic jams on the streets of Moscow and problems of environmental protection. Luzhkov has been criticized because of almost systematic repression of opposition demonstrations in Moscow. His supporters did stress that he is a great builder and re-erected the temple of Christ the Saviour, demolished by the Bolsheviks. Moscow became the city that never sleeps, with restaurants and stores open 24 hours a day. Workers and pensioners in the city live better than in any other city in Russia, thanks to allowances of City Hall. „There are two Luzhkov. An energetic builder, the other brash man, concerned about job and business to his wife. The change was in the beginning of the new century,“ said Nemtsov, said.