Ukraine: Darth Vader and Peking Duck to run for Odessa mayor's office

The main candidate of the Internet Party of Ukraine, named after the legendary Star Wars villain Darth Vader, is campaigning in Odessa, cruising through the town on a black van to the sound of the Imperial March from the saga. The Sith Lord often seen flanked by his loyal storm troopers and Chewbacca is the official candidate of the party which has become known for its theatrical public stunts.

Vader and storm troopers were recently seen waving at passers-by from atop the van as flames shot up at the helm of the vehicle. "When I am appointed to my position, I will distribute free accommodation as a first policy," the man dressed as Darth Vader said.

On Friday (23 October) Vader, Chewbacca and the storm troopers attended the unveiling of a monument to Darth Vader, positioned where there was once a statue of soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.

With Ukraine passing a law banning all soviet memorabilia and symbols on its territory the monument had to be demolished. The newly revealed Sith Lord statue claims to be more than a simple monument, equipped with a Wi-Fi router. The Internet Party of Ukraine sponsored the production of the monument in Odessa.

Head of the Odessa regional division of Ukraine's Voters' Committee, Anatoliy Boyko, said that there will be many unusual characters in the upcoming polls.

"In these elections we have a whole group of Darth Vaders and Master Yodas. We have a Peking Duck. These are the ones known and are represented in Odessa."

The Peking duck, among the list of unusual mayoral hopefuls was prevented from running for the election as it did not meet requirements set by Ukrainian legislation. Despite the decision the creative brains behind the duck campaign and an actual bird itself continue to campaign in Odessa.

"We present our campaign as a duck which is a candidate with balls because Odessa finally needs a character which will be able to do something for the city," Aniri Kinvets, creator of the duck campaign, said.

The only real candidate for Odessa city Council is Georgiy Putin whose shares a last name with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Georgiy Putin is a member of the Nova Derzhava (New Country) Party, which united supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine that was officially banned in Ukraine.

"This is my real last name. How do I live with it? I am afraid to end up in The Hague tribunal," said Georgiy Putin. Local elections take place on Sunday (25 October).