Luzhkov Comes Out Against Medvedev in Proposed Moscow-St. Petersburg Highway

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov published a story in Rossiyskaya Gazeta (literally, “Russian Newspaper”) that justified the need to complete construction work on the proposed Moscow-St. Petersburg highway. The highway’s controversial proposed route is through the Khimki forest outside of the capital.

This measure by Luzhkov comes out against Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who at the end of August, ordered suspension of plans to build the highway, at least until additional public hearings have taken place. Medvedev’s decision came in the wake of protests by environmentalists and human rights defenders. 

At the end of his piece, Luzkhov recalled the reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union: “The USSR collapsed not only because of the issues of economic inefficiency, but primarily due to loss of ‘good governance,’ discrediting the state management system.”

Luzkhov is of the opinion that a similar situation has been created in Russia today. “With the efforts of a group of politicians, journalists and ‘social activists,’ governing bodies are being disgraced.”