Moscow mayor warns of future turmoil

MOSCOW, March 22 (UPI) -- Russia may face a stormy future that threatens its unity and independence, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov warned Tuesday according to the Interfax news agency.

"Today, the whole country, all of society is alarmed. ... It seems like everything is going fine in our society and everyone should be glad, but there is no happiness," Luzhkov said while delivering a lecture entitled "The Development of Capitalism in Russia. 100 Years Later," at the Moscow Lomonosov State University.

The lecture was dedicated to the presentation of Luzhkov's new book with the same title, Interfax said.

Luzhkov noted that in April 2004, "protests flamed up in various cities of our country, exposing a new component of our life," the news agency said.

"If we do not make conclusions, the country may face turmoil, maybe even related to the loss of Russia's statehood," Luzhkov said according to the Interfax report.

"It is unpleasant and painful for me to say these things. But if we do not make the proper conclusions, we will become an object of a revolutionary situation and will face horrible difficulties," the mayor said according to the news agency report.