basquebromance
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from the article
Yuri Luzhkov, ex-Moscow mayor who transformed Russian capital, has died
In his 18 years as the Russian capital's proud mayor, he supervised Moscow’s transformation from drab Soviet city into modern European metropolis—at a price.
He scrapped what he disliked, and put up what he liked. Rows of 18th-century houses were demolished, glittering skyscrapers shot up. More than 1,700 Soviet apartment blocks were torn down in favour of something glassier.
As Russia stumbled out of its Soviet torpor, Luzhkov was running a city that accounted for a quarter of the country's GDP.
The first focus of his energy was to bring back Moscow's greatness. If the capital flourished, Russia would, too.
Yuri Luzhkov, ex-Moscow mayor who transformed Russian capital, has died
In his 18 years as the Russian capital's proud mayor, he supervised Moscow’s transformation from drab Soviet city into modern European metropolis—at a price.
He scrapped what he disliked, and put up what he liked. Rows of 18th-century houses were demolished, glittering skyscrapers shot up. More than 1,700 Soviet apartment blocks were torn down in favour of something glassier.
As Russia stumbled out of its Soviet torpor, Luzhkov was running a city that accounted for a quarter of the country's GDP.
The first focus of his energy was to bring back Moscow's greatness. If the capital flourished, Russia would, too.
