Moscow ex-mayor denies possible return to United Russia

Former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, who was dismissed from his post by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last year, has denied rumors about his possible return to the United Russia party, which he left ahead of his dismissal. The ex-mayor described the rumors as "nonsense," according to the Russian News Agency (RIA Novosti). "Unfortunately, United Russia turned from a ruling party into party serving the authorities," Luzhkov, who was a party co-chairman before leaving it, said. "Since then I haven''t changed my opinion; moreover, I became even more convinced." Medvedev fired Luzhkov, who had been in office since 1992, last fall over "loss of confidence," later citing exuberant corruption in Moscow and negligence of direct duties as the main reasons for his dismissal.