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His father Mikhail Andreyevich Luzhkov moved to Moscow from a small village in the Tula Oblast in the 1930s, he was a woodworker. His mother Anna Petrovna was originally from Bashkiria.
In 1958, Luzhkov graduated from the Gubkin Moscow Petrochemical & Gas Industry Institute with the qualification of "mechanical engineer" and for the next few years worked as a researcher in the Moscow Scientific Research Institute of Plastics . Joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1968. For the next 20 years worked on automation initiatives on different levels in the chemical industry (1964-1971: management automation department chief, State Chemistry Committee; 1971-1974: automated management systems department chief, Chemical Industry Ministry of the Soviet Union; 1974-1980: CEO, Experimental Design Office of Automation, Chemical Industry Ministry of the Soviet Union; 1980-1986: CEO, Scientific-Industrial Association "Petrochemautomation".)
He was first appointed as a member of the Moscow city council (Mossovet) in 1977, and beginning in the 1987, he transferred to work for the executive branch of the Moscow city government (Mosgorispolkom). He held different positions, most of the time one level below the Mayor. In 1991, Gavriil Popov was elected Mayor of Moscow in the first open free elections. However, Popov was not an experienced bureaucrat or manager, but rather an university professor who got popular because of his democracy-promoting speeches and articles. Eventually Popov became overwhelmed by his position's responsibilities, and resigned in June 1992. Luzhkov, who held the position of Prime-Minister in the Moscow city government at the time, was appointed Mayor by Boris Yeltsin on June 6, 1992. He did not have much political ambition, and paid more attention to the mundane everyday tasks of managing the city than Popov has done, that helped to attract wide popular support of the Muscovites. Was elected as Mayor on June 16, 1996 (winning 95% of the votes), and later re-elected on December 19December 19 is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 12 days remaining. Events 1732 Benjamin Franklin publishes Poor Richard's Almanack 1777 George Washington's army goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge,, 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep (69.9% of the votes) and again on December 7December 7 is the 341st day (342nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. There are 24 days remaining. Events History 1732 The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden, London. 1787 Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United Stat, 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U (75% of the votes). In 1998, when it became clear that Boris Yeltsin will be retiring relatively soon, Luzhkov formed his own political party, Otechestvo (Fatherland), to serve as his base for the upcoming presidential election. Many powerful Russian politicians such as regional governors supported his party, and when it merged with another governors-backed party, Vsya Rossiya (All Russia) to form Otechestvo-Vsya Rossiya , it became even more powerful. However, Boris Yeltsin appointed Vladimir Putin as prime-minister in August 1999, and Putin gained very fast in popular support after decisively managing the beginning of the Second Chechen War. Otechestvo-Vsya Rossiya never formally nominated Luzhkov as their presidential candidate, and they ended up endorsing Putin in the 2000 presidential elections, which he won easily. After that, Luzhkov became less active in federal politics. Later Otechestvo-Vsya Rossiya joined the United Russia party.