A former mayor of the Russian Pacific coast port of Vladivostok, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2023 for bribe-taking, has been released from prison to serve in the Russian military in Ukraine. A lawyer for former Mayor Oleg Gumenyuk said on January 14 that his client’s whereabouts at the moment are unknown after he signed a contract with the military late last year. Earlier, former Khakasia region Deputy Governor Sergei Novikov and Rustyam Abushayev, a former mayor of the Far Eastern city of Bolshoi Kamen, both serving prison terms for corruption, were released to serve in Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service, click here.
Convicted Former Russian Mayor Released To Fight In Ukraine
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