A Russian court has sentenced to six years in prison the man who was elected two months ago as mayor of the country's third largest city, Nizhny Novgorod.

Andrei Kilmentyev, a businessman with previous criminal convictions, was found guilty of embezzlement.

His election was annulled last month following allegations of vote rigging.

The BBC Russian Affairs Analyst says Nizhy Novgorod has been at the forefront of economic change in Russia, and the jailing of Mr Kilmentyev is a setback for the Russian government's reform programme.

Mr Kilmentyev says he wants to stand again when the mayoral elections are re-run.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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