Ousted mayor slams ‘Stalin-era’ repression

MOSCOW’S ousted mayor yesterday launched a withering attack on President Dmitry Medvedev, accusing him of promoting a climate of repression and censorship reminiscent of the Stalin era.

The extraordinary attack by Yury Luzhkov was the bitterest by any leading figure in Russia against Medvedev, who a day earlier dramatically sacked Luzhkov after 18 years in power, citing a loss of confidence.

The lacerating broadside came in a letter sent to the Kremlin late on Sunday but was only published yesterday on the website of the opposition weekly New Times magazine.