“Personality of an extraordinary scale”: former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov dies

In Germany, the 84th year of his life, the former mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, died. This information was confirmed by the current mayor of the capital, Sergei Sobyanin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the relatives and friends of Luzhkov. The head of state noted that the former mayor of Moscow was a talented organizer who was respected and trusted by residents of the capital.

“Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov was a person of truly extraordinary proportions. A bright and courageous politician, an energetic and talented organizer, an open and welcoming person. The real mayor of the capital, who was respected and trusted by Muscovites. In difficult years, at the turn of the historical eras, he did a lot for the development of Moscow, for it to become one of the leaders in the revival of Russia, ”the Kremlin’s website quoted Putin as saying.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed his condolences, his press secretary Oleg Osipov said.

“Obviously, Dmitry Medvedev and Yuri Luzhkov had a difficult relationship. We must not forget that Luzhkov headed the largest Russian city, the capital in the most difficult period. Of course, Dmitry Medvedev expresses condolences to the relatives and friends of Yuri Luzhkov, ”he said.

According to REN TV, Luzhkov died in a hospital in Munich. According to the channel, after the planned operation complications began, and the ex-mayor could not get out of anesthesia.

According to RIA Novosti, the editor-in-chief of Moskovsky Komsomolets Pavel Gusev, the cause of death was a "severe allergic reaction."

The Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Munich said that they had received information from Luzhkov’s assistant about his death and were ready to help the family of the former politician.

“We are ready to fully help in everything necessary, in such matters as issuing a death certificate and other matters,” RIA Novosti quoted a statement from the diplomatic mission.

The press service of the Moscow City Hall also said that Luzhkov will be buried in the Novodevichy cemetery.

“Luzhkov will be buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. The date and time are being specified, ”TASS quoted the interlocutor in the press service.

The second mayor of Moscow

Luzhkov was born on September 21, 1936. Before joining politics, he was engaged in science and worked in the chemical industry.

In 1968, he joined the CPSU, and received his first political post in 1975, when he became a deputy of the Babushkinskiy district council of Moscow.

After the collapse of the USSR, he participated in the election of the mayor of Moscow as a candidate for the post of vice mayor under Gabriel Popov. A year later, Popov resigned, and Luzhkov took his place. From then until 2010, Luzhkov headed the Moscow city administration.

To gallery page

In 2010, Luzhkov was dismissed by then-President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev with the wording "in connection with the loss of confidence."

As Sergey Naryshkin, who was then head of the presidential administration, later explained, Luzhkov was dismissed due to inefficient management of the city and due to the high level of corruption in the capital allowed by the leadership.

“This is, firstly, the extremely inefficient management of the city and, secondly, the prohibitive level of corruption committed by Luzhkov and his entourage,” emphasized Naryshkin.

After completing a political career in 2010, Luzhkov took up entrepreneurship. Mostly his business interests were related to agriculture.

During his life, Luzhkov received many awards and orders, both Russian and foreign. In 2000, he was awarded the Order of Honor, and he was also one of the 54 full holders of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. The last, IV degree, he received in 2016.

Among his awards are also the Armenian Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots, the Belarusian Orders of Friendship of Peoples and Francis Skorina, the Ukrainian Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the fifth degree, the Bavarian Order of Merit and many others.

“Headed Moscow in a difficult period”

The current head of the Moscow administration, Sergei Sobyanin, recalled that Luzhkov headed the city in a difficult period.

“I am sincerely sorry that this energetic, cheerful person who headed Moscow in the difficult post-Soviet period did not do much for the city and Muscovites,” he wrote on Twitter.

Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov passed away. I am sincerely sorry that this energetic cheerful person who headed Moscow in the difficult post-Soviet period did not do much for the city and Muscovites. Condolences to family and friends.

According to the Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov, Luzhkov was able to make a world-class metropolis out of the Soviet capital.

“The city went to him in difficult times for the country, but Luzhkov made a world-class metropolis from the Soviet capital. He was a talented politician and a wonderful person, ”he wrote on his Vkontakte page.

Luzhkov has always been distinguished by concern for people, convinced Secretary of the General Council of "United Russia" Andrei Turchak.

“On his initiative, many social programs aimed at supporting residents were launched in the city. And Muscovites remember this. It’s not without reason that the allowances that pensioners of the capital receive are still called “Luzhkov’s,” the party’s press service quoted him as saying.

Turchak recalled that Luzhkov was one of the founders of the United Russia party.

As a sympathetic person, the singer Lev Leshchenko remembers him. In a conversation with RT, he expressed the opinion that Luzhkov actually laid the foundation for the well-being of Moscow.

“A man looking to the future has done a lot for Moscow, has laid practically the foundation. He began to build Moscow at the very beginning, in the most difficult time, with honor he got out of the situation, making Moscow one of the most magnificent cities. A very decent, responsive, attentive person who radiated some kind of energy, a sincere love for people, for the business he was engaged in. I think he was a great man, ”Leshchenko is convinced.

“Managed to do the almost impossible”

Luzhkov also warmly recalls his associates. So, the vice president of Rosneft Sergey Tsoi, who worked as the mayor’s press secretary from 1992 to 2010, believes that Luzhkov was able to do the almost impossible.

“He managed to do a lot, almost impossible. Luzhkov got Moscow hungry, dirty, ruined. Many do not remember tobacco riots, trash cans that burned like the fires of the Inquisition near the Lubyanka, on Tverskaya. And in 2007, everyone gasped at the anniversary of the capital, because everyone had already seen another Moscow: clean, beautiful, smart, economically prosperous. I think this is the merit of Yuri Mikhailovich, ”he told RT.

Speaking of character, Tsoi admitted that Luzhkov was "a strict and even very tough man." However, the interlocutor of RT admitted that this was necessary because of the great tasks facing him.

“And in communication, he was a kind, pleasant, friendly and very interesting person. I believe that such a leader should be, ”Tsoi is convinced. - He came as a man who took place in the scientific world, achieved a lot. And although this is a completely different job, previous experience in science helped him a lot, because he systematically set tasks and systematically solved them. He was fond of music, various sports, all this was interesting to him, although there was often not enough time for all his hobbies and hobbies. ”

The opinion of Tsoi and Sergey Tkachenko, who headed the Institute of the General Plan of Moscow under Luzhkov, shares the opinion.

“He read all the drawings. We told him many of our projects, and in a private conversation, he clearly and intelligibly explained what he would like. He was a perfectly adequate person, not disdaining normal, simple communication. And not only with the heads of departments, but simply with simple architects, ”he emphasized in an interview with RT.