Aleksandr Sergeyevich Makarov (born in 1946) was the mayor of Tomsk from 1996 to 2011. He was born in Slavyansk-na-Kubani, Krasnodar Krai, before moving to Tomsk with his family. After graduating from the Tomsk Medical Institute, he worked as a surgeon in Krasnoyarsk Krai before returning to Tomsk to work in the local psychiatric hospital. He later entered the Tomsk State Pedagogical University and earned his teaching certification. After two years of teaching, Makarov entered public service: first as the chairman of the presidium of the council of people's deputies of Sovietskii Rayon (1990–1992) and later as the head of the Sovietskii raion administration (1992–1996). In 1994, he won a seat in the Tomsk Oblast duma. His seat in the duma became a springboard for his run for the mayorship of the city in 1996. Makarov defeated Gennadiy Konovalov that year and was re-elected in 2001 and 2006. From 1996–2001 he served simultaneously as mayor and as a oblast duma deputy. Arrest On 6 December 2006, Makarov was taken into custody on charges of abusing his office. He was initially accused of extorting over three million rubles ($114,000) from residents by threatening to destroy their real estate and preventing them from rebuilding. After further investigations, the police reported that they discovered Makarov held over $1.5 million worth of cash in his apartments. A search of his home uncovered one million rubles ($38,000) with another 300,000 rubles ($11,400) on the mayor himself. 8 December the court of the Soviet region of Tomsk has concluded of the mayor under the sentinel, a 11 December temporarily has discharged of the position down to adjudging court. During the search of his home, Makarov suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital. Legal proceedings were suspended while he is being treated. However, the prosecutor, Sergei Panov, is considered further charges and alleged that Makarov made threats against investigators. The press service of the regional prosecutor's office argued that the condition of the ousted mayor is good enough for the trial to continue. On 12 December the official charges against Makarov were announced. Makarov's attorney, Natalia Azurova, protested to the court that the prosecutor's actions were illegal. Specifically, she claimed that searches were conducted at the homes of his children, sums of money found were not in the "eight figures" claimed by prosecutors. She also alleged that the arrest and charge of the mayor