Kyiv’s Museum Of Election Trash: How Buckwheat, Bottle Openers, And Bay Leaves Can Buy A Vote

In corruption-plagued Ukraine, it’s known as “sowing buckwheat” – handing out presents, from buckwheat to bottle openers, to secure voter support. To remind Ukrainians ahead of this year’s parliamentary vote that “buckwheat” comes with a heavy price – the loss of a say in government -- election watchdog Chesno (Fairly) and Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper set up a Museum of Election Trash at Kyiv’s National Museum of the History of Ukraine. The exhibits showcase campaign handouts since 1991.