Former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov was respected among Muslims, who considered him a friend and ally, Chairman of the Religious Board of the Russian Federation and the Russian Muftis Council Ravil Gainutdin.
"We have received sad news: my friend and colleague, former mayor of Moscow Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov passed away in the 84th year of his life. For almost two decades, we have cooperated with him not just as a religious figure and mayor - our communication has always been fraternal. Yuri Mikhailovich could come to the festive prayer, hold a meeting, communicate with ordinary Muslims," RIA Novosti quoted the religious figure as saying.
Gainutdin also reminded that Yuri Luzhkov took part in the construction of the Memorial mosque in the capital and laying the first stone of the renovated Cathedral mosque.
Yuri Luzhkov died the day before in the Munich clinic after cardiac surgery. He was 83 years old. The funeral of the former Moscow mayor will be held on December 12 at the Novodevichy cemetery.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofiev / TASS