Alexander Victorovich Donskoy (Russian: Александр Викторович Донской) is a businessman and former mayor of the Northern Russian city of Arkhangelsk.[1] He was the first prominent Russian politician to announce intentions to run in the 2008 Russian presidential election.[2][3] He was later arrested in July 2007 on charges of economic crimes and abuse of power. He received a three year suspended sentence and two years of probation on March 6, 2008, four days after the conclusion of the 2008 election.[4]
Alexander Donskoy | |
|---|---|
Александр Донской | |
| 6th Mayor of Arkhangelsk | |
| In office 28 March 2005 – 19 July 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Oleg Nilov |
| Succeeded by | Viktor Pavlenko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 June 1970 Arkhangelsk, RSFSR, Soviet Union |
| Spouse |
Marina Viktorovna Donskaya
(divorced) |
| Children | Alexander and Evita |
Business career
editDonskoy began his career as an entrepreneur, specifically focusing on supermarkets.[5] In 2006, Donskoy raised money to buy out buildings constructed by a Romani group and reached an agreement with baron Holupy Gomon to move the group out.[6]
Political career
editDonskoy ran for mayor of Arhangelsk in 2005 as an independent candidate against the United Russia candidate Pyotr Orlov.[7] In the election, Donskoy beat Orlov and was elected as mayor of Arhangelsk in March 2005, becoming the youngest mayor of the city to date.[8]
2008 presidential campaign
editDonskoy's announcement on 1 November 2006 of his 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 power and of forging his university diploma.[2][3] Following his arrest, he was initially released, but was then re-arrested in July 2007.[9][10] The charges against Donskoy included an allegation that he had misappropriated roughly 4 million rubles in order to pay for security for himself and his family.[4] Donskoy was found guilty on all counts, but was handed a suspended three year sentence and a two year probation rather than the three year prison sentence that the prosecution had sought. Despite this, the Oktyabrsky District Court ruled that Donskoy would no longer be eligible to serve in any public office, elected or otherwise. Following the ruling, Donskoy's lawyers announced that they would seek an acquittal and were willing to take the case to the European Court in Strasbourg, but neither ever occurred.[4]
2011 Russian legislative election
editDonskoy served as the head of Yabloko's regional group for Arkhangelsk and Kaliningrad during the 2011 Russian legislative election.[11] On 11 October 2011, Donskoy revealed that Yabloko Chairman Sergey Mitrokhin had asked him not to stand as a State Duma candidate for Yabloko.[12] On 24 October, Donskoy was officially barred from the Yabloko party list.[13]
2018 presidential campaign
editOn 24 October 2017, Donskoy announced that he would run for President in the 2018 Russian presidential election.[14] However, he never submitted the necessary registration documents to the Central Election Commission and therefore was never an official candidate. Based on the official election results published by the CEC,[15] Donskoy either received no votes or votes for him were marked as invalid.
Personal life
editDonskoy came out as gay on 24 October 2017. In response to a journalist's question about whether or not he was gay, he said yes. Later, Donskoy confirmed that this was an official statement.[16][17]
In 2017, Donskoy took his Ferrari and used it to speed through the halls of a mall in Moscow.[18] Nobody was injured, but it took security officers several minutes to stop the car, allowing it to leave several tire tracks along the floor of the mall.[citation needed] Donskoy claimed that it had all been for fun and was a joke for publicity.[citation needed]
On 22 November 2020, Donskoy's son Alexander died after contracting malaria.[19]
Popular culture
editOn 2 January 2019, a video was uploaded to YouTube of Donskoy racing around the mall in Moscow set to the tune of Coconut Mall from the Mario Kart series.[20] It went viral and has amassed over 2.2 million views.
References
edit- ^ Alexander Donskoy. Investigators require that I resign office Archived 2007-09-13 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
- ^ a b Elena Larionova. Archangelsk mayor is arrested Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
- ^ a b Factiva Public Figures & Associates. Top Stories: PEPs, corruption & money laundering Archived 2007-10-31 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
- ^ a b c Мэр Архангельска получил три года условно; приговор будет оспорен Archived 2008-05-08 at the Wayback Machine(in Russian), Igor Kluchnikov, Radio Svoboda, March 6, 2008
- ^ Myers, Steven Lee (25 February 2007). "Post-Putin". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- ^ В Архангельске не строят этнических баррикад, но люди всех национальностей должны жить по законам России Archived 2017-12-07 at the Wayback Machine,(in Russian) mayor Donskoy's interview, October 21, 2006
- ^ "Ryazan crisis: deputy Igor Morozov versus governor Georgy Shpak". 2008-08-07. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ Портал муниципального образования «ГОРОД АРХАНГЕЛЬСК». Информация о мэре города Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
- ^ Elena Larionova. Arkhangelsk mayor is released[permanent dead link] Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
- ^ Michael Schwirtz and Joshua Yaffa. Russian press review: July 25 Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
- ^ ""Яблоко" вернулось к корням". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Александра Донского отлучили от "Яблока" - Новость дня - Архангельск: новости, погода, работа в Архангельске, автомобили, недвижимость, знакомства, Архангельские форумы". 2011-11-04. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Центральная избирательная комиссия Российской Федерации". 2013-10-29. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Бывший мэр Архангельска сказал, что гей и собирается в президенты". Пятый канал. October 24, 2017.
- ^ "ЦИК утвердил итоги выборов президента РФ". 2018-03-24. Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Скандальный политик сделал каминг-аут". dni.ru.
- ^ "Бывший мэр Архангельска Донской совершил каминг-аут". РЕН ТВ. October 24, 2017.
- ^ Nagesh, Ashitha (2017-04-11). "Former Russian mayor drives Ferrari into shopping mall 'for a joke'". Metro. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
- ^ "Son of former Arkhangelsk mayor Alexander Donskoy dies". GTRK Pomorye. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "video v moskve eks mer arxangelska prokatilsya na ferrari po torgovomu centru". Yakazanec. 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2024. [dead link]