LUZHKOV, Yury Mikhailovich
Mayor of Moscow

Yury Luzhkov (Юрий Михайлович Лужков) was born September 21, 1936 in Moscow. He has been mayor of Moscow since June 1992 when he replaced Gavril Popov.

In 1958, Luzhkov graduated from the Moscow I.M. Gubkin Institute of Oil and Gas, going on to work as a scientific researcher until the mid 1960s.

He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1968 and was first elected to toscow city council in 1977, holding various positions in the city administration before becoming mayor in 1992.

Initially appointed by presidential decree, Luzhkov was reelected as Moscow mayor in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2007. He is also vice-chairman and one of the founders of the United Russia party. Luzhkov gained popular support for early policies such as providing free transportation to the elderly and encouraging entrepreneurship. He won 95% of the vote in his first mayoral election victory in 1996.  

During Luzhkov’s time as mayor, Moscow has seen considerable development in the transport and construction sectors. Luzhkov oversaw the rebuilding of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and commissioned several prominent sculptures from Zurab Tsereteli. He has been criticized for developing old parts of the city at great cost to historic buildings and monuments. Luzhkov also tightened the system of registration for non residents in the city, leading to frequent police I.D. checks. 

Luzhkov was initially tipped for presidential success in 2000, but the rise in popularity of Vladimir Putin, led to Luzhkov’s Otechestvo-Vsya Rossiya party coming a disappointing third in State Duma elections in 1999. Luzhkov then accepted integration into United Russia and supported Putin in his 2000 election campaign. 

In May 2008, Luzhkov was banned from entering Ukraine following his assertion that the Crimean city of Sevastopol belongs to Russia.

Luzhkov was also criticized in 2010 for planning to include images of Joseph Stalin in the Victory Day parade marking the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II. He was accused of trying to rehabilitate Stalin’s reputation.

Yuri Luzhkov is an Orthodox Christian and is strongly critical of homosexuality. He has persistently refused to allow gay pride events to take place in Moscow, most recently in May 2010.

Luzhkov has been married twice. He had two sons with his first wife, Marina Bashilova, before her death in 1989. His second wife is Yelena Baturina, a real estate magnate and Russia’s richest woman. Luzhkov is a strong advocate of sport and is also famous for his love of bee-keeping.

Related links:

Yury Luzhkov’s website

Website of the Moscow Mayor

Related Russia Profile articles:

Retirement Plans (05/06/2010, Tom Balmforth)

A Profitable Patch (04/19/2010, Svetlana Kononova)

Nationality: Paranoid (03/31/2010, Roland Oliphant)