KIEV, Nov. 2 – Parties and candidates running in majority constituencies spent a total of $2.5 billion on campaigns and advertising ahead of parliamentary elections, Artem Bidenko, President of SA Political Communications Group, said.

"At these elections we registered a record number of candidates – 2,500 candidates on party lists and 2,500 candidates in majority constituencies. These elections were the most expensive and we estimate their cost at $2.5 billion since the beginning of the year," he said at a press conference in Kiev on Friday.