#12 - JRL 2006-272 - JRL Home
Luzhkov Slams Government, 1990S Liberal Reformers

YEKATERINBURG. Dec 2 (Interfax) - Moscow Mayor and United Russia Co-Chairman Yury Luzhkov has criticized the Russian government and liberal economists who carried out economic reforms in Russia fifteen years ago.

"Stop talking about the viciousness of the oil needle (the Russian economy's addiction to oil exports). Our government is becoming increasingly reminiscent of an inveterate smoker who says: okay, now I'll finish this one and then quit, and then I'll finish the next one and then quit again," Luzhkov said speaking at a United Russia congress in Yekaterinburg.

Luzhkov was especially critical of Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref. "I am glad to hear that he likes how China's innovative sector is developing, but I would like to remind him that he is the economic development minister of Russia and not China. It is about time to start addressing innovations in our economy," Luzhkov said.

As for liberal reforms that were launched in Russia 15 years ago, Luzhkov called for analyzing that period and its main actors realistically and showing "what heritage we are abandoning."

"Some gentlemen have started to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their activity somewhat too ceremonially and to recall the liberalization of prices and the shock therapy with their characteristic warmth in the eyes, with wandering grins, and smacking lips," Luzhkov said. These people "had the nerve to call themselves the resuscitators of the economy, but they in fact were real charlatans," he said.