Brazil: Sao Paolo Official Arthur do Val Gets Backlash After Sexist Comments on Ukraine's Women Refugees

Brazil's Sao Paolo official Arthur do Val was scrutinized by the public after he made sexist remarks on the women of Ukraine who left their country amid its war with Russia.

Do Val, a congressman from Sao Paolo, Brazil, traveled to Ukraine with rightwing activist Renan Santos to help the refugees cross the borders of Ukraine, The Guardian reported. Their trip in the European region had a blessing from Brazil's former judge and minister, Sergio Moro, who hoped to challenge Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election.

However, their diplomatic trip was placed in shambles on Friday when the Brazilian media shared an audio clip where the congressman was heard referring the women of Ukraine to "goddesses" and "easy," per New York Post.

"I've just crossed the border on foot between Ukraine and Slovakia. Bro I swear to you... I've never seen anything like in terms of beautiful girls. The refugee queue... it's like 200 meters long or more of just total goddess," Arthur do Val reportedly said in the recorded audio clip.

The Brazilian congressman then compared the refugee queue they witnessed to the nightclubs in Brazil, claiming that the line in Brazil "doesn't come close" to the queue of women they see in Ukraine.

Do Val then claimed that the refugee women from Ukraine are "easy" because they are poor and that he is coming back to the country once the war is over, per The Guardian.

Wife of Ukraine's Former Brazil Ambassador Condemns Arthur do Val's Comments

After Do Val made his sexist remarks on Ukrainian women refugees, the Brazilian congressman is now facing expulsion,which was proposed by the public.

On Sunday, New York Post noted that about 56,000 people signed on an online petition to remove Do Val from Sao Paolo's 94-seat parliament.

Meanwhile, the wife of Ukraine's former ambassador to Brazil, Fabiana Tornenko, took to Twitter to condemn what Do Val said about the women of Ukraine, per The Guardian. Tornenko posted a tearful video of herself where she called Do Val a "shameless cretin."

"Show some respect you punk... you've no idea what the Ukrainian people are going through," Tornenko said in the video.

President of Brazil's Workers' party, Gleisi Hoffmann called what Arthur do Val said "nauseating."

"This is the kind of person who elected Bolsonaro! He must be stripped off power," Hoffmann underscored.

Do Val commented on the criticism he faced after his claims as he apologized for what he said. The Brazilian congressman blamed what he said for three days without drinking water and having a shower.

"My mind was racing, I talked nonsense," Do Val said, per The Guardian.

Number of Ukraine's Refugees Amid War with Russia

Do Val made his comments as the refugee count on Ukraine continues to rise on Sunday amid the war with Russia.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi shared the estimated refugee count to CBS News on Sunday.

"As of today we've passed the terrible mark of 1.5 million refugees in 10 days, essentially from Ukraine into five neighboring countries," Grandi shared.

The high commissioner also said that most of the refugees were composed of women and children, contending that men aging from 18-60 years old must remain in Ukraine to defend their country against Russia. Grandi added that most of the refugees were "traumatized and frightened."

"One and a half million is difficult enough to manage even for relatively stable and prosperous countries in Europe... This is an extremely messy situation, all over Ukraine," the UN high commissioner pointed out.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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