Russian death crash man acquitted

Evidence showed Yevdokimov's car was going at more than 120km/h

A motorist who was jailed for causing the death of a regional governor in a road accident has had his conviction overturned by a court in Siberia.

Oleg Shcherbinsky had been sentenced to four years' jail for failing to avoid Altai Governor Mikhail Yevdokimov's speeding car, causing it to crash.

Mr Shcherbinsky became a national hero after his conviction, observers say.

He won the support of many drivers in Russia, who say officials are often allowed to ignore road laws.

A regional court acquitted Mr Shcherbinsky and ordered his release.

Court evidence

Mr Shcherbinsky, a railway worker from Siberia, failed to notice the flashing light on Governor Yevdokimov's Mercedes.

Oleg Shcherbinsky won huge sympathy across Russia

When he attempted to turn off the main road into a side street in his Toyota, the governor's car veered off the road and hit a tree. Mr Shcherbinsky was jailed for causing his death.

Evidence given in court showed Yevdokimov was travelling at more than 120km/h.

The BBC's Chloe Arnold in Moscow says drivers in Russia rallied in his support, sticking "free Shcherbinsky" posters in their car windows and tying white ribbons to their aerials.

They say they are fed up with a two-tier system which allows anyone in power to ride rough-shod over ordinary drivers, our correspondent adds.