Luzhkov again pushes for control of Shermetyevo Airport

Published: 6/22/1999

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has insisted that the state and regional governments transfer a controlling share of Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport to the city government, who already have a substantial minority position of 25%. He has announced that the Moscow City government has “the desire and the opportunity” and in this case at least part of the finance to turn Sheremetyevo into a high-class international airport. Mayor Luzhkov also reports that he is negotiating with investors about financing the airport's reconstruction (www.concise.org 4th March 1999), although I am sure that Skanska, the Scandanavian construction group, would be unhappy to hear the discussions are ongoing given they consider they have won the tender. Luzhkov's efforts to control the airport have been going on for some time and this should be considered another round in that battle.

Article ID: 610