Jurij Luzkow

Date of birth: 21.09.1936

Place of birth. Education. He was born in Moscow. Graduate of the Moscow Institute of Oil and Gas named after I.M. Gubkin.

Career. He worked in senior positions in companies and organizations of the chemical industry.

From 1987 he worked in Moscow's executive authorities: First Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Council, Chairman of the Moscow City Council, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Moscow Soviets, Deputy Mayor, Prime Minister of the Moscow government.

In 1992, after the resignation of the Mayor of Moscow, Gavriil Popov, Jurij Luzkow took office as City Head.

In June 1996, December 1999, and 2003, he was elected Mayor of Moscow.

In June 2007, at the suggestion of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, Jurij Luzkow was reappointed as Mayor of Moscow for four years by the deputies of the Moscow City Council.

On September 28, 2010, the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, dismissed Jurij Luzkow 'for loss of trust'. Experts claim that Jurij Luzkow became a victim of intrigues by Vladimir Putin.

Since October 1, 2010, he has been heading the Faculty for the Management of Large Cities at the International University in Moscow.

In various years, he was a member of the district council in Moscow, the Moscow Soviets, and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR.

Member of the State Council at the President of the Russian Federation, representative of the Russian Federation in the Chamber of Regions of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, member of the Federation Council Committee for Budget, Tax Policy, Currency Regulation, and Banking Activity.

Since the end of 1998, he has been the head of the All-Russian Socio-Political Organization 'Fatherland'. He was Co-Chairman of the Supreme Council of the All-Russian Political Party 'United Russia'. At the end of his second term as president, in April 2008, Vladimir Putin took over the chairmanship. Before that, the party was led by the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Boris Gryzlov. Shortly after his resignation as mayor, Jurij Luzkow left the party.

Views and Assessments. In his homeland, Jurij Luzkow is mainly seen as a 'strong manager' known for his activities in the social sector and in the economy of the capital of Russia. In Ukraine, however, he is a constant 'source' of political scandals due to his sympathy for Crimea and Sevastopol.

During his repeated visit to Ukraine (on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia on May 11, 2008, in the 'City of Russian Sailors'), concerned expectations were again expressed by the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian nationalists. Immediately after the politician's landing from the plane, he was greeted by the Security Service of Ukraine with a written warning, urging him to refrain from sharp and unlawful political statements and considerations (as he had already made several times before). Representatives of right-wing parties displayed banners at the airport demanding that he leave Crimea. As expected, Ukraine's fears turned out to be justified.

Jurij Luzkow again raised a discussion about the belonging of Sevastopol in front of an audience of thousands. 'This question has remained unresolved, and we will resolve it. We will resolve it in favor of the state positions and the state law that Russia has with respect to its naval base - Sevastopol,' he said. Furthermore, he criticized the authorities of Ukraine for the 'legalization' of UPA-UNS fighters and integration into NATO, and announced that he would urge the Russian leadership to revise the friendship treaty between Russia and Ukraine. 'If we do not respond, it will be another serious mistake. We must exit the friendship treaty,' emphasized Jurij Luzkow.

The day after the scandalous appearance in Sevastopol, on May 12, the Security Service of Ukraine declared the Mayor of Moscow an undesirable person. And stated that within the framework of the corresponding case, the circumstances of Jurij Luzkow's 'provocative political statements' were being investigated, which may connect him with money laundering in Ukraine, especially in Sevastopol.

After Viktor Yanukovych was elected President of Ukraine, the leadership of Ukraine decided to revoke Jurij Luzkow's status as an undesirable person in Ukraine.

Awards. Awarded the Orders of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, 'For Services to the Fatherland' I-III degrees, 'For Military Merit', the Order of Honor, the medals 'For the Defender of Free Russia', 'For Strengthening Combat Unity', and others, three letters of thanks from the President of the Russian Federation. Winner of state awards of the USSR and the Russian Federation. Received the honorary titles 'Honored Chemist of the Russian Federation', 'Honored Builder of the Russian Federation'.

Honorable professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the MGU, the Academy of Labor and Social Relations, and a number of domestic and foreign universities, member of several academies of Russia.

Family. Jurij Luzkow is married, his wife is the well-known Russian businesswoman Elena Baturina. The politician has four children.

Hobbies. He is interested in football, tennis, skiing, equestrian sports, and beekeeping.

Death. On December 10, 2019, Jurij Luzkow died at the age of 84 in a clinic in Munich after heart surgery.

10.12.2019