“A historic moment” where “hope” is seen. The municipal deputy of the PCP in Coimbra was an observer in the Russian elections in Donetsk, criticized by the UN, in Donetsk and saw “freedom” at the polls.
Manuel Pires da Rocha, deputy of the Coimbra Municipal Assembly elected by the PCP, was in Donetsk in recent days as an observer of the elections called by Russia for this Ukrainian region occupied by Moscow’s troops.
There is various information, initially provided by the magazine Visão, published by the Russian press about the presence of the Portuguese observer, also a member of the municipal commission of the PCP in Coimbra, in Donetsk.
“The most important thing in the elections is freedom and we saw freedom,” said Manuel Pires da Rocha in an interview in English with the Donetsk news agency (DNR). “We saw the way people voted and people talked to us,” he said. The deputy also highlighted that he perceived an “atmosphere of freedom” in the region.
“People talk about a historic moment”, welcomed Manuel Pires da Rocha, who took the opportunity to throw a dart at the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken: “We are not agents, we are citizens. I think it is important to look [para as eleições] have a contradiction with what we hear.”
In statements to the Donetsk news agency, Manuel Pires da Rocha stressed that he had not noticed these elections, the holding of which was criticized by the West, any “violation” and that the electoral act followed “international standards.”
“People came here freely, without being victims of coercion. “Elections represent a feeling of freedom and we saw that feeling here.” greeted the Coimbra deputy.
By stopping criticizing the Western media, Manuel Pires da Rocha accused them of “telling lies about Russia.” “We are not here to support anything, but to monitor. “Russia did not force us to come or say anything different.”he assured.
In another comment, this time to the Donetsk.kp newspaper, Manuel Pires da Rocha said that, as an observer, he visited “several places.” “If I could choose one word it would be ‘hope.’ “Just like blood, it is important”he said.
The elections are, in the opinion of the communist deputy, an “important historical moment.” “I hope life returns to normal. Democracy occurs when people can choose their future,” said Manuel Pires da Rocha.
According to information published on the CDU website, Manuel Pires da Rocha is a musician, studied in the Soviet Union and is currently a violin professor at the Coimbra Conservatory of Music. He is also a leader of the Teachers’ Union of the Central Region and a member of the Coimbra Municipal Commission of the PCP.
In his political career, he was also head of the list in Coimbra in the last elections in 2022.
The holding of elections in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine was harshly criticized by the West. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) indicated that they will have “no validity under international law.” The United States described the elections as a “propaganda exercise” and reiterated that it will never recognize Moscow’s claims. “to any sovereign territory of Ukraine.”
The United Nations (UN) also expressed concern about the holding of this electoral event, highlighting that the vote “has no legal basis.”
Source: Observadora
