Luzhkov’s choice: to step down or be fired by President

Early dismissed Yury Luzhkov had got two variations: either to step down of his own free will due to the loss of confidence, or to receive a note of “tough language.”  

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev “lost confidence” in Luzhkov, a Kremlin spokeswoman Natalya Timakova told reporters in Shanghai today. “Now he’s just a citizen.”

“There are two variations of resignation of chief of the office – to resign and step down through an own free will, or to be fired with the statement on the loss of confidence. The Mayor returned form the vacation yesterday, the President signed the decree today. So, draw your own conclusions,” RIA Novosti quoted Natalya Timakova as saying.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on Tuesday firing Moscow's long-time mayor Yury Luzhkov. In the statement posted on the Kremlin website, Medvedev said he had lost confidence in Luzhkov. Yury Luzhkov has been mayor of Russia's capital for nearly 20 years.

Medvedev named Luzhkov’s deputy Vladimir Resin as acting mayor.