UKRAINE-ELECTION/DARTH VADER Darth Vader and Peking Duck to run for Odessa mayor's office

Record ID: 135872

  • Title: UKRAINE-ELECTION/DARTH VADER Darth Vader and Peking Duck to run for Odessa mayor's office
  • Date: 23rd October 2015
  • Summary: ELECTORAL BILLBOARD WITH DARTH VADER ON IT ODESSA, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 23, 2015) (REUTERS) VADER WALKING TOWARD MONUMENT COVERED WITH PLASTIC VADER GREETING SCULPTOR ALEXANDR MILOV, WHO CREATED STATUE STATUE OF VADER BEING UNCOVERED VARIOUS OF VADER STATUE SCULPTOR ALEXANDR MILOV WITH HIS DAUGHTER (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VADER STATUE SCULPTOR, ALEXANDR MILOV, SAYING: "At that m
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA61DJ6XIXC5XR3V2VY5TYE5CGS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: 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 "Star Wars" 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 told Reuters TV.
    Walking along the streets with Chewbacca, the Star Wars villain was surrounded by curious onlookers.
    On Friday (October 23) 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.
    Speaking about the removal of the Lenin monument, sculptor Alexandr Milov who created the statue of Darth Vader, said it was not easy for artists to destroy such works.
    "At that moment we had a task to remove Lenin. On one hand, we had a feeling that we don't want to be involved in vandalism, but it was also impossible to leave the monument at its place, considering the situation in the country," Milov told Reuters.
    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.
    This is not Vader's first attempt at public office. In March 2014, he announced a run for president, but after his bid was rejected by the election commission, he was able to run for mayor of Kiev and Odessa.
    The Internet Party of Ukraine was registered in 2010 and aims to create an electronic government in Ukraine, transition to digital media and offer free computer courses to all citizens to the public.
    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 Yoda. 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 (October 25).
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