Convicted ex-Belgorod mayor Polezhaev killed in Ukraine war

Konstantin Polezhaev, who served as mayor of Belgorod from 2015 to 2019 and later as a regional deputy governor, has been killed while fighting in Ukraine after enlisting from a Russian penal colony, according to Russian media reports. He had been sentenced in August 2024 to five years in a maximum-security colony and a 36-million-ruble fine after pleading guilty to accepting two luxury vehicles worth more than 18 million rubles in bribes tied to municipal contracts.

Polezhaev announced during his own sentencing hearing that he had already signed an enlistment contract with Russia's Ministry of Defense for combat deployment. The exact time, location and circumstances of his death have not been disclosed by Russian authorities.

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