Alexander Victorovich Donskoy is the mayor of the Northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk

Arkhangelsk

Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...

. He was the first Russian politician of national recognition who proclaimed intentions to run for the presidency in 2008

Russian presidential election, 2008

The Russian Presidential election of 2008, held on March 2, 2008 resulted in the election of Dmitry Medvedev as the third President of Russia. Medvedev, whose candidacy was supported by incumbent president Vladimir Putin and five political parties , received 71% of the vote, and defeated...

. After announcing his intentions in 2006, he was arrested in July 2007 following charges of economic crimes and abuse of office. He was released in March 2008 after receiving a sentence of 3 years on probation.

Political career and persecution

Donskoy is an entrepreneur, with interests in the supermarket, according at least to one source. He was elected as mayor of Arhangelsk in March 2005 —reportedly, the youngest mayor of the city to date. His announcement on November 1 2006, of the intention to run for the presidency of Russia, was followed, and allegedly anticipated, by official pressure. He became the subject of a criminal investigation toward the end of 2006 and, in early 2007, was accused of abuse of office and of forging a university diploma. Following his subsequent arrest, he was released, but was arrested for the second time in July 2007. As of early October, Donskoy remained in pre-trial detention, with the third of three cases awaiting hearing. At least two sources reported that Donskoy had been handed a suspended sentence (of one year) for charges related to "faking documents" and "illegal business activity." It is not clear whether this result constituted sentences associated with two prosecuted cases or one. Prosecutors are seeking restrictions on future political activity as part of the judgment following the third trial. Supporters maintain his innocence and propose political causes for his continued prosecution.

In 2006, Donskoy raised money to buy out buildings constructed by a Roma group and reached an agreement with a baron Holupy Gomon to move the group out.

External links

• The fate that befalls critics who dare to stand up to Putin