Moscow's long-serving mayor, Yury Luzhkov, has been in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons since last week, when a massive, Kremlin-orchestrated campaign was launched against him on several national television channels. The offensive follows Luzhkov's recent remarks criticizing the lack of a unified voice from the federal government. The Kremlin interpreted his statements as an attempt to cause a rift in the Putin-Medvedev tandem - an offense that can be forgiven if committed by an opposition politician, but not by a government official.
A seasoned fighter, who survived in the ruthless media wars of the 1990s and repeated assaults by detractors, Luzhkov's recent gaffe could cost him his political career.
In response to Kremlin criticisms over his handling of Moscow's wildfire crisis in August, Luzhkov complained that President Dmitry Medvedev's men were treating him unfairly, and compared them unfavorably with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's team.
"I got support from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and a kick from [President Dmitry Medvedev's] staff," he said.
The mayor was away on vacation when Moscow was suffocating from smog caused by the wildfires raging outside the city, but he did not cut his vacation short to return to Moscow and deal with the crisis.
"They say six days is a long time [a reference to the week in August when carbon monoxide levels in the Russian capital reached their peak]," Luzhkov grumbled in a recent interview with TVC, a Moscow television channel loyal to the mayor. "I came back as soon as possible."
It is not quite clear, though, what actually delayed his return. Were there no plane tickets available for an earlier date, or was it his physical condition that prevented him from traveling?
The mayor then used this same Putin-Medvedev dichotomy in an article featured in the newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta, in which he weighed in on the highly controversial project to build a Moscow-St. Petersburg highway through the Khimki forest. He criticized President Medvedev's decision to suspend work on the project following a wave of public protests, arguing that the planned review of the project's feasibility ran counter to a government resolution. This statement was seen as yet another attempt by Luzhkov to sow discord between the cabinet and the executive branch. In fact, he is the first Russian government official to openly challenge the ruling tandem, and it seems highly unlikely that he will get away with it.
President Medvedev has not commented on Luzhkov's escapades, but he has had Kremlin officials speak to the press off the record. Here are just a few of the most typical statements: "There are useless attempts by Moscow city officials to drive a wedge between the country's president and prime minister"; "This is absolutely unacceptable, and has nothing to do with the actual relationship between the head of state and the head of the government"; "Moscow authorities have gone too far in their attempts to pit the president and the prime minister against each other." But this is perhaps the most telling statement from the Kremlin: "Such attempts will not go unanswered." The diplomatic language barely conceals the threat.
Four major national television broadcasters joined the anti-Luzhkov chorus last week. NTV, Vesti 24, Rossiya and Channel One all aired damning programs and documentaries on Moscow's mayor and his billionaire wife. They criticized him for failing to cut his vacation short during the wildfire emergency in August and for allocating three times as much money for the upkeep of his bees than for Moscow's elderly and handicapped in need of physical therapy. He was also blamed in the reports for the poor condition of Moscow's roads, the demolition of many of its historical buildings, and the widespread corruption in city hall.
Luzhkov's wife, Yelena Baturina, also came under fire. The broadcasters presented incriminating material against Russia's richest woman, claiming she used her husband's position to amass her fortune. Mrs. Baturina, chair of the Inteco company, immediately threatened to sue the television channels for libel.
Luzhkov, who typically resorts to lawsuits for every unflattering mention of himself or his associates in the media, is now biding his time. Perhaps he is unsure of his next move in this uncharted political territory. This well-orchestrated media campaign to discredit him suggests that he cannot turn to the federal government for support this time.
The Moscow mayor's term ends next summer, but he may well have to resign before then. He has been in office for 18 years now (few grand princes of Muscovy enjoyed such a lengthy reign), and the persistent rumors about his dismissal sound more credible than ever now.
In recent months, the federal government has been making a concerted effort to replace long-serving heads of regions and municipalities with fresh talent. Luzhkov is now one of just four such veterans still in office. The other three are Belgorod Region Governor Yevgeny Savchenko, Omsk Region Governor Leonid Polezhayev and the Tomsk Region's Viktor Kress. There are reports that a successor has already been found for Kress.
Luzhkov will soon turn 74, which is a good age for retirement. But following the damning media campaign, he may not be able to leave with his head held high and a shiny new medal on his chest, to the cheers and applause of his Kremlin superiors. He is not likely to enjoy the pompous farewell ceremony held for the outgoing heads of the republics of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, Mintimer Shaimiyev and Murtaza Rakhimov. Whenever Luzhkov finally resigns, all he will leave with is the bitter aftertaste of a scandal.
RIA Novosti political commentator Nikolai Troitsky
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
