At least three officials in Russia's western city of Belgorod have resigned two days after they played the famous Star Wars theme music to introduce the newly elected mayor at his swearing-in ceremony.
The city administration’s website said on March 28 that the chief of the city's culture directorate, Lyudmila Grekova, and several other city administrators had resigned.
On March 26, the Star Wars theme was played as Yuri Galdun walked onto the stage to take his oath for the mayor's office.
Video of the ceremony led to numerous jokes on social networks. Many compared Galdun with archvillain Darth Vader and other characters from the episodic Star Wars films.
Grekova told the Baza channel of the Telegram messenger app on March 27 that she did not know the musical excerpt was from the famous series of Hollywood films, saying that she and other city administrators chose it because it sounded "modern."
The Star Wars theme is the most recognizable melody in the Star Wars series.
"I always demand from others to stay away from foreign stuff and here we go. Indeed, our negligence," Grekova said.
According to the city administration's website, Deputy Mayor Andrei Miskov and the chief of the mayor's office, Vladimir Merzilkin, also resigned.