Convicted Russian ex-mayor cuts jail time by agreeing to fight in Ukraine

A disgraced former Russian mayor convicted over bribery had his prison sentence cut short after signing a contract to fight with Russia's military in Ukraine. Oleg Gumenyuk, who served as mayor of the far eastern city of Vladivostok between 2018 and 2021, was convicted last year of accepting bribes worth $432,000 and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. However, he was released after agreeing to bear arms and fight in Ukraine, his lawyer told Russian news outlet Kommersant. Photos circulating online show a man resembling Gumenyuk carrying a gun along with other servicemen.