The PR campaign for Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw an unexpected and unintended boost this week after a candidate known as Emperor Palpatine won a seat during a Ukraine city council election.

A 25-year-old man named Aleksandr Borovik, who dresses as Star Wars villain Emperor Palpatine, was elected with over 54% of votes in the city of Odessa. He was one of almost 50 candidates who used Star Wars names in the election.

The news comes just days after a man dressed as Chewbacca was arrested in the city for being unable to produce identification documents. He was accompanying a man dressed as Darth Vader who was attempting to vote.

The result has angered mayoral candidate Sasha Borovik who shared his thoughts on Facebook.

“I can’t understand, but all the same respect, the choice of those who voted for the current government,” he wrote. “We all have our own choices … but it’s above my understanding. People, what’s wrong with you?”

Last year’s election saw people dressed as characters such as Yoda and Queen Amidala try to stand but without success.

The city of Odessa has been gripped with Star Wars fever of late. Last week saw an artist change a Vladimir Lenin statue into a Darth Vader monument as a response to a new law that demands all remnants of Ukraine’s communist past be taken down.