ST. PETERSBURG, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - A court in the north Russian city of Arkhangelsk has convicted the city mayor of forgery and illegal business, giving him a one-year suspended sentence and fining him 75,000 rubles ($3,000).
The court found Alexander Donskoi guilty of using a forged diploma and engaging in illegal business activities.
His lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict. Donskoi, 37, has been in custody since his arrest in July.
Prosecutors are currently investigating another case against Donskoi, on abuse of office. The prosecution alleges he paid for personal protection services for himself and his family from the city budget. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Donskoi was the CEO of a chain of food stores until March 2005, when he was elected mayor. Last October, nine months before his arrest, he announced he would run for the Russian presidency.
