Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov Sacked by President Medvedev
BBC News reports that President Dmitry Medvedev has fired Moscow's powerful mayor, Yuri Luzhkov.
A presidential decree said that Luzhkov was being removed because he had lost "the trust of the president of the Russian Federation."
The move follows weeks of speculation that Luzhkov would be forced out after disagreements with the president.
Russia's constitution allows the president to fire the Moscow mayor and regional governors, and appoint successors without elections. Yesterday Luzhkov said he would not stand down voluntarily. He has not publicly responded to Medvedev's move.
The Financial Times notes that Luzhkov was one of the most powerful independent figures remaining in Russian politics. Analysts say the step is a politically risky one for Medvedev, as it could destabilize Moscow with a year to go before parliamentary elections in 2011. But Medvedev could not afford to allow Luzhkov to remain in power, as it would have made him appear weak.
The Wall Street Journal reminds that as Mayor, Luzhkov enjoyed strong support from many Muscovites, but he was also criticized for cracking down on political opponents, repeatedly deploying police to break up opposition demonstrations, and for allegations of rigging elections. He and his wife, who became Russia's wealthiest woman while he was mayor, were dogged by allegations of corruption, though they consistently denied them and none were ever proven.