UKRAINE’S Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko denounced yesterday’s local elections as a “farce” which would not change the disastrous direction of the country.

Numerous parties had broken the “day of silence” regulations, while violence and intimidation by the right continue against the party, which is battling attempts by the Kiev regime to outlaw it.

“The current regime is not truly national and is not patriotic,” Mr Symonenko charged, calling for a transfer of power to “those who produce wealth, not those who steal it.”

“We can expect a further surge in social unrest after the election,” he said. “Do not forget how the economy has deteriorated since regime change. A policy based on foreign loans and the destruction of our economic potential will have serious consequences.

“After January 1 2016 the final sale will begin — the sale of our land.” Earlier this year Kiev announced the sale of more than 300 publicly owned companies in energy, mining, agriculture, transport, chemicals and construction.