: Luzhkov at a crossroads

Yuri Luzhkov came for an interrogation to investigators. There are a lot of further options for the development of events around the former Moscow mayor. However, power options are fraught with risks. In general, Luzhkov’s story is vaguely reminiscent of what happened and is happening with Yulia Tymoshenko. But there is not everything clear there.

The interrogation of Yuri Luzhkova in the “Ambassadorial Land case” and 13 billion Bank of Moscow - the event expected, but with an incomprehensible outcome. In recent weeks, the media intensity of the confrontation of Yuri Luzhkov with the Kremlin implies any outcome of the case - from the descent of all claims on the brakes to the forced expulsion of Luzhkov from Russia or even the transformation from the witness in the case to the accused.

Journalists waited at the building of the Investigative Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but waited for comments only from his lawyer Henry Reznik (Luzhkov got into the building through another entrance and by the time his lawyer was already inside). The lawyer said that his client appeared for interrogation in the "major mood". Reznik does not believe in the possibility of retraining Luzhkov. “This is not a“ Luzhkov case ”, this is the“ Bank of the Moscow Bank ”, so how can it be attracted as the accused?” - said the lawyer.

At the same time, the lawyer proposed another option for the development of the fate of the former Moscow mayor - Luzhkov "very much will be a senator." When asked whether this is a joke, he invited reporters to evaluate themselves. However, the window of opportunities and unpredictability of the development of events around the former mayor of Moscow really allows you to offer almost any interpretation.

On the one hand, Luzhkov was criticized through all federal channels, accusing of “unprecedented” corruption in Moscow from his reign. On the other hand, criticism seemed to come mainly or even exclusively from the Kremlin. From the White House, where the future President Vladimir Putin does not say anything to Luzhkov, no one said anything. Like the last time, during the resignation of the Moscow mayor, the prime minister distanced from the conflict. What does it mean in essence to take responsibility for the political consequences of force pressure on the former Moscow mayor. Dmitry Medvedev, who may not have been afraid to take such responsibility, the president seems to be not quite real. True, in order to arrange troubles to Luzhkov, his authority is quite enough.

The costs are relatively high in the sense that the new metropolitan government has not yet gained the same popularity among Muscovites as Luzhkov had even in the last years of his reign.

Most of the townspeople refers to the activities of the new metropolitan authorities simply indifferent. In many ways, this explains, say, a low rating of United Russia in the capital - neither Sergey Sobyanin, nor the deputy mayor with the Luzhkovskaya “antiquity” Vladimir Resin for the role of “steam locomotive” for the Moscow EP, there is not enough personal popularity.

The risk is aggravated by the fact that the elections are on the nose - first Duma, and then presidential. And to push Muscovites in the current government not with their hands. Moreover, Luzhkov is one of the “founding fathers” of “United Russia”. A kind of pillar of Russian politics, to which the definition of “power” in the broadest sense is quite applicable. And its discrediting or even landing will hit on the idea of ​​“power” in general - both in the eyes of the population, and in the eyes of the elites.

Another thing is that any popularity is reversible. Yes, many Muscovites still believe that Luzhkov “should be left alone”, despite any of his sins. However, the fact is that after the propaganda campaign started by the Kremlin during the resignation of the mayor, Luzhkov’s popularity fell.

In a sense, Luzhkov can be compared with another prominent politician - former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

In general - neither externally, nor on the history of the ascent on the imperious Olympus and the overthrow from it - it would seem at all. However, the circumstances of the cases are vaguely reminiscent of each other.

Both politicians de facto are accused of imprisonment or patron for dubious transactions that have brought losses for the budgets entrusted to them. Both cases are undoubtedly politically motivated and the final customer of them are the current government, which seeks to assert himself due to the harsh punishment of the “former”. In addition, both cases lead to a loss of some part of popularity. And both things do not find a unanimous response “for” or “against” either the public or the elites.

Against this background, a wide window of opportunities really opens and predict the future and Luzhkov, and Tymoshenko becomes extremely difficult.

The risks of a particular decision of the authorities are weakly calculated. Here is glad, by the efforts of the regionals, he refuses to exclude from the Criminal Code an article on which Tymoshenko is currently sitting. Does this mean a prison on the "Khodorkovsky version" for the "Orange Princess"? It is unlikely that anyone will say for sure. And Luzhkov’s lawyer declares senatorial prospects. Does this make sense? Maybe there really is. You never know what senators we had.