LUZHKOV, YURY MIKHAYLOVICH

(1936– )

Politician. Born inMoscow, the city he would ultimately come to govern, Yury Luzhkov joined theCommunist Party of the Soviet Unionin 1968. He worked as a manager in several chemical and scientific firms before moving intopolitics. He was elected to the Moscow city council in 1977, where he served in a number of senior positions during the 1980s.

Boris Yeltsinappointed Luzhkov to replace Gavril Popov, Moscow’s first democratically elected mayor, in 1992 after Popov resigned.Luzhkov proved popular with voters due to his expansion of thetransportationsystem and public works projects, though he has been criticized for his demolition of significant historical buildings in the city center. He is also credited with Moscow’s dramatic increase in wealth as compared to other parts of the Russian Federation, particularly in the area of attractingforeign investment. He has drawn criticism for keeping the permit-based (propiska) residence registration system in effect in the capital, and for his harsh stance againstimmigrants, particularly those fromCentral Asiaand theCaucasus.

As mayor of Moscow, Luzhkov has amassed a prodigious fortune and vast array of business interests includingmediaoutlets; he is frequently described as one of the country’soligarchs. His political ambitions have grown with his wealth. In the late 1990s, he formed the Fatherlandpolitical party, which soon merged with All Russia to form theFatherland—All Russiaparty. Allied toYevgeny Primakov, he sought to challenge Boris Yeltsin for control of the federal government. However, the emergence ofVladimir Putindashed his plans for national influence; Luzhkov ultimately reconciled himself to supporting the new president. His party was soon absorbed by the pro-PutinUnity, which ultimately becameUnited Russia. He has created international controversy over the status of the Russian naval port of Sevastopol, resulting in him being declared persona non grata inUkraine. He maintains economic interests across many Russian regions (primarily to guarantee privileged access tofoodstuffs, energy, and other necessities), and has recently expanded into international real estate as a major investor in improving Kyrgyzstan’stourisminfrastructure around Lake Issyk Kul.

Luzhkov is an avowedOrthodox Christianand a strong supporter of theRussian Orthodox Church. His opposition tohomosexualityis well known, and he has denied permission to gay pride parades on several occasions.