Dean is investigated for supporting demonstrations against elections

The rector of the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Janir Alves Soares, is being accused of spreading lies and supporting demonstrations with requests for federal intervention against the result of the 2022 elections. Soares is investigated by the Ministry of Education, after denouncement by state deputy Beatriz Serqueira (PT), had a request for dismissal sent to Lula by 24 federal deputies from Minas Gerais and became the target of investigation by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

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In his defense, Soares says he is protected by the right to expression of thought and assembly described in items in article 5 of the Constitution and that he did not approve the acts of vandalism carried out in Brasília on January 8.

Support for the demonstration on the highway of MG

The trigger that triggered formal investigations against Soares was the publication of a video on his social networks, in the early afternoon of January 8, in which the dean, in Diamantina (MG), celebrated the entry of “the people into Congress”. Soon after, upon learning of the vandalism, the dean released other videos, one in which people in green and yellow repeated “do not break, do not break”, and a second showing alleged infiltrators in the acts.

The following day, PT deputy Beatriz Siqueira sent a letter to the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, asking for Soares’ dismissal for several reasons. In addition to the video of the 8th, the deputy mentions the organization of a demonstration on BR 367 to contest the elections and ask for federal intervention, and that the dean would have spread “disinformation to the population” on his social networks. In the document, she attached a copy of the statement sent by the dean to the Commander of the 3rd Battalion of the Military Police of Minas Gerais (PMMG), requesting support for blocking the highway, at the end of November 2022.

In response to the deputy, on January 10, the dean published a video denying having supported criminal practices and defending his right to express his thoughts. He denied that the protest at the end of November had completely blocked BR 367, recalled that the act was peaceful, and said that he had the constitutional right to demonstrate in favor of federal intervention, as several people did, as is usual in other protests. in Brazil.

“Accompanying the complaint are several photos taken from my profile on Instagram, where it is possible to see my manifestation about my opinion, as well as my freedom of expression, which is a constitutional right conferred on every citizen, regardless of the position held; and at the moment I see myself obliged to express myself in the face of what I perceive to be subject to criticism, in the sense that we can correct it and thus achieve a better good for our country”, said the dean.

Regarding the video taken on January 8, he says he received information that people went to Brasília to demonstrate in an orderly and peaceful manner, as they did in the more than 60 days that followed the second round of elections, and that he he had been touched when he saw images of police agents from the National Congress peacefully opening the doors so that people could enter.

“At that moment, I expressed my joy that Congress was opening its doors to receive a people, a pacifist and orderly people, who claim compliance with the laws and what is in our Constitution, at that moment I made the video on Instagram”, said. “Unfortunately, after I made the video, several acts of depredation, disrespect, contempt, happened in that environment; and at no time do I defend this type of practice, ”he said.

The Ministry of Education reported that it had opened a process to investigate the dean’s attitudes with the portfolio’s internal affairs department. At the STF, the request for an investigation made by Federal Deputy Reginaldo Lopes (PT) and Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede) was accepted by Minister Alexandre de Moraes.