Lifenews: Luzhkov received a residence permit in the UK

Former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov received a residence permit in the UK, according to Life News with reference to a source surrounded by ex-mayor. As the source noted, despite some difficulties that Luzhkov had with obtaining an English visa, he managed to get a residence permit without problems. The British Embassy in Russia told the publication that in order to obtain such a status it is necessary to own real estate and invest from 200 thousand to a million pounds in the country's economy.

Diplomats refused to comment on how long Luzhkov received the right to unhindered entry into the country, citing the confidentiality of information. At the same time, they noted that the former mayor had to receive all documents on a common basis. “We do not have any privileges for former officials,” the embassy said.

On September 14, 2010, Financial Times reported that the wife of Luzhkova Elena Baturina acquired the Whitangerst mansion - the second largest in London. Later, the editorial office brought an apology to Baturina. The newspaper The Sunday Times wrote about the deal in September 2009, then it was reported that the mansion cost 50 million pounds. Representatives of Inteko said that neither the company nor its president or proxies are related to the purchase of this property, and then Elena Baturina filed a lawsuit to the court.

Earlier, Luzhkov unsuccessfully tried to get a residence permit in Latvia. According to the former metropolitan mayor, he tried to get a residence permit in Latvia to gain freedom of movement. Earlier, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia Linda Murnytsa decided to include Luzhkov in the list of people undesirable for Latvia. "The Murnytsian made such a decision on the basis of information from the security authorities. This means that Luzhkov will not be able to get a residence permit in Latvia," said the press secretary of the Minister Gunt Scraper.

The former Moscow mayor repeatedly allowed unfriendly statements in relation to Latvia. So, in August last year, he said that the Russian language should become a second state in the republic.

On July 1, 2010, amendments to the Law on Immigration entered into force in Latvia, which granted the foreigner the right to claim a residence permit in Latvia if he acquired real estate in the country from 50 to 100 thousand lats, or registered a company in the country, or introduced 200 thousand lats to the bank account in Latvia.

In January, there were reports that Luzhkov intended to ask for a residence permit in Austria, with which the ex-mayor associates a long-standing friendship with Vienna Michael Hoyle, and his wife Elena Baturina, who owns the luxury hotel in one of the popular Austrian skitzbuel ski resorts. However, according to the Austrian media, Luzhkov had little chance of getting a residence permit in Austria, since Vienna "is afraid to get burned about a person who has fallen the disgrace of the Kremlin."

Luzhkov, who served as the mayor of Moscow for more than 18 years, on September 28, 2010 was ahead of schedule by decree of the president "in connection with the loss of trust." At the end of December, in the final interview, the leaders of three Russian federal channels Medvedev said that he explains Luzhkov’s resignation with a high level of corruption in the capital.