Ukrainian capital city council voted on September 9 to cancel election to district councils in a move interpreted by observers as the ruling Party of Regions' tightening grip on power in Kyiv.

The capital city will no longer have district councils as the local election on October 31 will not be held in the capital's 10 districts after 95 deputies supported the initiative offered by Oleksandr Popov, first deputy head of the city administration and a presidential appointee.

Popov argued that the city budget is not able to afford to keep district councils and Kyiv council can take over all their responsibilities.

"The budget will save around Hrn 15 million due to this elimination," noted Popov.

Opponents, hence, argue that the move is undemocratic as Kyivans lose representative power in their districts.

"The money saved is very little, as members of district councils work on a pro bono basis," admitted Tetyana Melikhova, a member of the city council from opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc.

"By now, the president has appointed heads of district administrations in the capital, but simultaneously people got to choose district representatives (in councils) who elected their chairman," mentioned Oleksandr Serhiyenko, head of Instytut Mista think tank.