'Darth Vader' Joins Battle To Rule Ukraine

Darth Vader, or at least someone who dresses up like him, has announced he is running for the presidency of Ukraine.

The Star Wars character, who has sent chills through generations of children, has been chosen as the candidate to represent the Ukrainian Internet Party (UIP).

The party aims to create the world's first "government by internet", with paper-based bureaucracy being abolished.

Its figurehead Darth Vader was often seen at the protests in Kiev against the country's previous president Victor Yanukovych.

Before that he was photographed with colleagues dressed as Star Wars Stormtroopers to help publicise what the party stood for.

In a statement released by his party, Vader said he wanted to restore the glory of Ukraine's past.

He said: "I alone can make an empire out of a republic, to restore former glory, to return lost territories and pride for this country."

UIP leader Dmitry Golubov said: "After winning intra-party primaries by a landslide, comrade Vader will be our party's candidate."

Mr Golubov is understood to have founded the party in 2006 or early 2007 before it was officially registered in 2010.

It has a number of high-profile supporters including a top lawyer and a world champion Thai boxer.

The party has carried out a series of publicity stunts, including declaring Darth Vader mayor of Odessa on the steps of the city hall and demanding land to park Vader's spaceship in a city park.

But its leader is mired in controversy with Mr Golubov having spent time in prison for credit card fraud which involved using the internet.

The party says it had paid the required 2.5 million hryvnia (£135,000) registration fee to allow its candidate to take part in the presidential race.

Ukraine is holding a snap presidential election on May 25 after parliament ousted pro-Moscow leader Mr Yanukovych.

The move led the mostly pro-Russian Crimea region to hold a referendum, which backed a split from Ukraine. Soon after, Crimea was annexed by Russia.

According to the UIP, Darth Vader won 3% of votes in 2012 parliamentary elections.