He was born in 1970 in the working area of ​​the city of Arkhangelsk. There was no smell of a “golden spoon” in his mouth - a low-income family, mother a cleaner, father worked on an excavator. The beginning of his life was the most ordinary - school, army, then various unskilled work. How was the boy able to reach the level of the city elite from among the workers, become a wealthy businessman, and then the mayor of Arkhangelsk? What helped him in this - perseverance, luck, willpower or fate?
Donskoy as a businessman
After going through many low-paying jobs after the army, Alexander Donskoy decided to try his hand at trade. He began with small stalls where cigarettes, cosmetics, and small goods were sold. In 1994, he registered the company, called it "Season" and began to grow larger. Soon, instead of stalls, shops appeared, staff began to grow, and things went. He was lucky in business - after 10 years, he had more than 800 employees. The goal - “make money” was achieved. And Alexander Donskoy decided to go into politics - he is running for mayor of the city as an independent candidate.
Mayor Achievements
Arkhangelsk is an extremely depressed region. The region possessing natural riches, meanwhile, is in a deplorable state. Tourists coming to the city see disgusting asphalt even in the city center, a huge amount of dilapidated housing, mountains of garbage on the street.
It was such a city that Donskoy Alexander began to lead. There were problems in it; there were not enough subsidies from the center. But, nevertheless, for the period that Donskoy headed the capital of Pomerania, he managed to do a lot.
So, for example, the problem of gypsies was solved. The huge Gypsy diaspora was going to settle in the administrative center, as they say, “forever”. This could not please the indigenous people, the intensity of passions went through the roof. Alexander Donskoy was able to solve the problem, and with the help of monetary compensation convinced the gypsies to choose another place of residence.
Another merit attributed to Donskoy by the Arkhangelsk residents is the reconstruction of the pedestrian avenue of Chumbarov-Luchinsky.
This avenue is called "local Arbat", and here is a collection of unique wooden houses - the memory of old Arkhangelsk. In 2005, it was Donskoy, who was the mayor of the city, who initiated the restoration and restoration of the avenue. By 2009, restoration work came to an end, and the street was open to citizens. In addition to a lot of greenery, a paved pavement and unique wooden buildings, there appeared lanterns, beautiful benches, and monuments to the writer Stepan Pisakhov.
Nomination for the post of President of the Russian Federation - why?
What prompted Donskoy to announce his nomination for president of Russia? Supporters and opponents are considering several versions:
- The desire to draw attention to your depressed region. Arkhangelsk really was and is in a rather poor state. Housing and roads — two major ills — are costly. Alexander Donskoy could not solve these problems without resorting to the help of the federal budget. And his statement of intention to run for president in the next election was an act of attracting federal authorities to the problems of financing the city.
- Donskoy became closely within the framework of the head of the city, and he thus decided to continue his political career. Ex-mayor of Arkhangelsk Alexander Donskoy is known as a man conquering the peaks one after another. It is closely to him to be constantly in the same framework. So, starting to do business, he constantly expanded his capacities not only for the sake of income - he simply became uninterested in the same state. And having reached the highest level for himself in any business, he “turned it off” and proceeded to something else. So, the company "Season" at the time of sale was in the top 10 retailers in the North-West region of Russia. And it began with a single stall.
- In the fall of 2018, Alexander Donskoy publishes an autobiographical book, Mood Swings. From Depression to Euphoria, ”in which he talks about his illness. According to him, since childhood he suffers from bipolar affective disorder. This disease used to be called Manic-Depressive Psychosis. It is characterized by a sharp and deep change of mood. In the manic stage, this is self-confidence, over-activity, constantly elevated mood. In the depressive - a deep disappointment in life, a breakdown, suicidal thoughts.
One way or another, the fact remains that in the fall of 2006, Alexander Donskoy announced his intention to run for president in the 2008 elections. Soon after, he was under investigation, and the prosecutor opened a criminal case against him. The reason is that the mayor of the city allegedly got his diploma of higher education illegally, in other words, he bought it. The investigation lasted more than a year, and in the end, by the decision of the court, Donskoy was found guilty, sentenced to 3 years probation, and left the chair of the head of the city.
Life after the trial
After 8 months in the pre-trial detention center, there was no more strength left to continue the political path. Alexander Donskoy and the family were experiencing not the easiest moments - deep depression, lack of money, loss of strength.
Wife Marina, with whom they had been together since school, all the time supported Donskoy as best she could. They have two beautiful children - son Alexander and daughter Evita. But, probably, something broke inside the ex-mayor, and after so many years of family life, the couple decides to divorce.
In his autobiography, Alexander Donskoy recalls his wife Marina with warm words. And also tells what else happened in his personal life. In 2016, he remarried, but not for long - he was fascinated by another girl. As a result, again a divorce, but, according to Donskoy, now he is happy with his new chosen one.
Donskoy is the owner of several museums and a trainer of personal growth, he also conducts his video blog. He often shocked the audience with non-standard statements or deeds, and in general attracted a lot of attention. It is not known how the fate of this extraordinary person will develop further.