No need to cheat: Poroshenko warned the authorities against holding pseudo-elections during martial law

In a final interview on the “Pryamy” TV channel, Petro Poroshenko warned the authorities against holding pseudo-elections during martial law.

“A few words about the elections. For some reason, the authorities have now begun to actively discuss them. Either they are sending some instructions to the parliament, or something else. I want to make it absolutely clear: do not try to hold pseudo-elections without lifting martial law. No one will recognize these elections. These elections prevent the free expression of citizens’ will. And this is Putin’s theory of building a dictatorship. This will not work in Ukraine. Unfortunately, it threatens chaos. So, don’t even try,” the fifth President stated.

“Do not try to hold elections through a fake server by electronic voting. No one will recognize these elections. These elections simulate fraud. For those who are interested, study Yanukovych’s experience in 2004 very carefully. He has already tried to do this once. Don’t play around. Ukraine now is absolutely not the same as Ukraine in 2004,” Poroshenko believes.

“I am proud that my team conducted three exemplary election campaigns. Exemplary because these were the official conclusions of the OSCE, the United States, and the Council of Europe. A civilized procedure for the transfer of power is what Europeanness is all about. So, the parliament has a responsibility, if an agreement is reached on at least a temporary ceasefire, not to extend martial law. We should not be scared, because the issues of borders, the issue of departure, and the issue of demobilization are resolved by laws. And I did this by adopting laws on the Anti-Terrorist Operation, laws on the Joint Forces Operation. But this did not hinder democracy,” the fifth President recalled.

“Instead of martial law, it will be possible to introduce a state of emergency in certain regions along the border. And everything is being decided there too. But elections should be held immediately after the end of martial law, after the ceasefire, as written in the law. The law says: a ceasefire is 60 days parliamentary, 90 days presidential. And we should not tamper with the laws, we should not tamper with the Constitution,” Petro Poroshenko warned.

“Democracy is the authority and trust in the world, without which Ukraine will definitely not survive. So don’t play around, don’t reinvent the wheel, read the Constitution, and you will be happy,” Poroshenko summed up.

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