"The city authorities will never tolerate the slightest display of inequality or oppression toward the Jews," Luzhkov said at the opening ceremony.

The closest political ally of President Boris Yeltsin, Luzhkov is seeking re-election June 16, the day of the Russian presidential elections.

A source close to the Moscow city administration said the mayor did not want to ignore the Jewish electorate in light of the upcoming ballot. About 250,000 Jews live in Moscow.