X

Sad Sith: Darth Vader's bid for Ukraine's presidency denied

The chosen presidential candidate of Ukraine's wacky Internet Party will not be allowed to run for the troubled country's highest office, says its Central Electoral Commission.

Eric Mack Contributing Editor
Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries. Eric helps consumers by demystifying solar, battery, renewable energy, energy choice concepts, and also reviews solar installers. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. His encrypted email for tips is ericcmack@protonmail.com.
Expertise Solar, solar storage, space, science, climate change, deregulated energy, DIY solar panels, DIY off-grid life projects. CNET's "Living off the Grid" series. https://www.cnet.com/feature/home/energy-and-utilities/living-off-the-grid/ Credentials
  • Finalist for the Nesta Tipping Point prize and a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
See full bio
Eric Mack
2 min read

darth.png
It's no wonder a guy courts the dark side of the Force after being rejected by his own government. Ukraine Internet Party
This is not the Sith Lord the people of Ukraine were looking for. Or at least that's the judgment of the country's Central Electoral Commission, which denied the request of a guy who goes by the name Darth Vader -- and plays the part in public, complete with a brigade of stormtroopers -- who was seeking to run for President on the ticket of Ukraine's Internet Party.

The BBC reports that the commission rejected Vader's application (Ukrainian media reports that the man is an electrician born Viktor Shevchenko who changed his name in March) on grounds that it was "questionable" and potentially forged. A presidential election has been scheduled for May 25 in Ukraine following the flight and removal from office of Viktor Yanukovych, which was precipitated by protests in Kiev that turned bloody earlier this year.

Internet Party supporters in costume as Lord Vader and stormtroopers were often seen taking up positions in Independence Square during the protests.

"They were afraid of my rating and strength," said Vader in his usual terse manner via a statement(via Google Translate). "They were afraid (of the) support rendered to me (by) the people of Ukraine. They will be defeated. "

Internet Party leader Dmitry Golubov said that Vader is a Ukrainian citizen with a constitutional right to run, and that the party plans to challenge the decision in court.

Known for its public stunts, the Ukrainian Internet Party has been around for several years and actually has a rather serious platform centered around its call to implement an electronic government.

For now, our Ukrainian Vader has been exiled, sent fleeing from the exploding wreckage of his political Death Star of a candidacy. Something tells me though that this story is far from over -- the Empire tends to strike back, after all.