ORENBURG, December 2. /TASS/. Police in the Urals region of Orenburg have opened a criminal case against a local priest detained for drunk driving, a police spokesman said.

Priest Nikolay Stremsky, known for his charity work, was already arrested for drunk driving twice and now may face up to two years in jail if convicted.

Stremsky was banned from church service by the bishop of Orenburg.

Another priest is facing up to seven years in prison for hitting a 53 year-old woman on a crosswalk in the northwest republic of Karelia while driving drunk. The woman died on the spot.