Kremlin’s regional elite regimes change policy encounters difficulties in Moscow

Author: Olga Vasilyeva Section: Major Events of the Month

Issue: Our Yearend Report

Tags: Luzhkov

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Regional Elite Overhaul

The Kremlin’s regime policy of rejuvenating the gubernatorial corpus that has already led to the resignations of the majority of the so-called long-living regional political heavyweights, almost failed in September during the dismissal of the Moscow mayor.

The first signal about the unpopularity of this policy among some leaders ruling their regions as personal fiefdoms from the beginning of the 1990s was noticed even earlier during the sacking of the Bashkortostan president, who put a lot of resistance till he was offered a ‘golden parachute.’

However, Kremlin in case of Yuri Luzhkov decided not to bargain, dismissing him with ignominy to serve as ‘a lesson’ to other regional feudal lords.