A Siberian official was handed a five-year suspended sentence Thursday for abuse of power, Krasnoyarsk regional prosecutors announced in a statement.
Pyotr Suvorov, leader of the Evenkia autonomous district, was also prohibited from occupying official positions for four years.
Suvorov was convicted of having used 97,000 rubles ($1,750) of public funds to purchase a prestigious Pyotr Stolypin state medal for himself. The medal is given out for notable contributions to Russia's social and economic development.
Apart from purchasing the medal, Suvorov also allegedly used state funds to pay for a joyride in a helicopter for himself and some pals from the administration.
According to the prosecutors, Suvorov has denied his guilt.
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