KYIV, May 16 - Ukrainian rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has announced that he is setting up a political party ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.

Vakarchuk said on May 16 that he will lead the Holos (Voice) party in the elections because parliament has “turned into a toxic swamp that drains our future,” RFE/RL reported.

"We have to change that," the 44-year-old told his supporters in Kyiv, adding that his team will be united by "zero-tolerance of corruption" and would support a free economy, reject Russia's meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, and favor closer Euro-Atlantic integration.