Moscow mayor sacked after 18 years

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has sacked Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov, who held the post for 18 years, the Kremlin said today.

The Kremlin’s website said Mr Medvedev signed a decree effective today relieving the 74-year-old mayor of his duties due to the president’s “loss of confidence” in him.

Mr Luzhkov drew criticism in July when repairs to the main highway leading to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo international airport created lengthy traffic jams.

Anger increased when the mayor remained on holiday in Austria in August even as Moscow suffered through weeks of smog from nearby forest and peat-bog fires.

The final blow apparently came when Mr Luzhkov criticised Mr Mededev’s decision to suspend building a highway through a forest outside Moscow.