Asia-Pacific

Kremlin denies Luzhkov's letter reason for dismissal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-29 21:47

MOSCOW - Russian media unveiled a copy of a letter written by sacked Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov to President Dmitry Medvedev a day before he was fired, but the Kremlin responded on Wednesday that it was not the letter that led to Luzhkov's dismissal.

In the letter, the 74-year-old former mayor criticized the 45-year-old president for "profanation of democracy" and re-affirmed his refusal to retire voluntarily, Moscow's Vedomosti daily reported.

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According to the letter reprinted by Moscow's The New Times weekly, Medvedev's decision was an emotional reaction on this letter.

In his three-page letter, Luzhkov called the Kremlin's proposal to resign as "shallow" and "unexplainable". He also demanded for the restoration of free elections of regional governors and mayors, accusing Russia's leadership of creating the atmosphere of fear "like in 1937" and sliding to an authoritarian regime.

Luzhkov called Kremlin policy "incompatible with democracy" and accused Medvedev of "information terrorism" and censorship.

Luzhkov also insisted that Moscow public "fully sided" with him, and signed the letter in a military-style salutation.

Kremlin responded on Wednesday that it was not the letter that prompted Medvedev to sack Luzhkov. According to the presidential spokeswoman, Medvedev read the letter after he signed his decree, Interfax news agency reported.