Moscow mayor denies his wife will become new Baturina

MOSCOW, April 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin denied
allegations his wife Irina will follow suit of Yelena Baturina, the spouse
of his predecessor Yuri Luzhkov, and make a fortune thanks to her husband.
"She is incapable of doing business. I believe it is good for Moscow,"
Sobyanin smiled at a meeting with journalists on Thursday.
Baturina was considered to be the richest Russian businesswoman thanks
to lucrative contracts and huge credits received with her husband's
support. Luzhkov however rejected the claims saying his wife was simply a
gifted business lady.
After Sobyanin replaced Luzhkov, Russian media said his wife owned a
road construction company in Tyumen. In April Sobyanin reportedly decided
to replace four million square kilometers of asphalt-paved pedestrian
sidewalks in downtown Moscow by tiles. Rumors immediately spread in the
capital city alleging Sobyanin was eyeing a lucrative contract for his
wife's company.
The mayor said he was aware of the rumors and denied them. "They claim
my wife is actively engaged in business and repairs sidewalks. Thanks God
she is not! She is no businesswoman like I am no ballerina," the mayor
commented.
According to Sobyanin's family income declaration reported by
Vedosmoti business daily, his wife earned only 21,800 rubles (7000
dollars) in 2008 and even less in 2009 - 18,586 rubles.
Russian media said Irina Sobyanina's company installed marble and
granite kerb stones in Tyumen streets when her husband was the regional
governor.