'Chewbacca' Arrested at Polls on Election Day in Ukraine

Fugitive Wookiee smuggler and starship mechanic Chewbacca — or at least someone dressed like the famously hirsute "Star Wars" character — was arrested Sunday by Ukrainian police and fined the equivalent of $8 for violating local election laws, police said.

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"Chewbacca" was bagged at a polling station in Odessa in violation of Ukraine's law against public campaigning on election day, United Press International reported from Odessa.

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He was there to support "Darth Vader," a Sith lord candidate for mayor running as a member of the Ukraine Internet Party, which is known for its lighthearted take on the country's election process.

Police described the incident as "nothing unusual" in a post on Instagram.

Russian journalist Natalia Antonova, former editor of The Moscow News, tweeted a picture of Chewbacca in court.

Official election results won't be released for several more days, but local media reported that former world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko was reelected mayor with about 54 percent of the vote, defeating Aleksandr Borovik.

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Borovik reported on Facebook that another Internet Party candidate, identified as "Emperor Palpatine " — yet another Star Wars character — was elected to the city council.

"We all make our own choices," Borovik wrote. "But it's beyond my understanding. People, what's wrong with you?"

While Mr. Vader wasn't allowed to run for office, he has been honored with a statue that was repurposed last week from one that had previously honored Vladimir Lenin. The statue is a Wi-Fi hotspot.

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Chewbacca's reaction wasn't known because there was no one available to translate his comments from Shyriiwook. An alleged accomplice, identified as Han Solo, remains at large in a ship described as the "fastest piece of junk in the galaxy."