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Brazilian Police Arrest Former President Jair Bolsonaro Ahead of Prison Sentence
Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro arrested by federal police in Brasilia, days before starting his 27-year prison term for leading a 2022 coup attempt.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-22
Brazilian Police Arrest Former President Jair Bolsonaro Ahead of Prison Sentence

Brazil’s federal police have arrested former President Jair Bolsonaro, days before he was scheduled to begin serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in attempting a coup following the 2022 presidential election.

Bolsonaro, who had been under house arrest since August, was transferred to police detention on Saturday morning, according to his lawyer and close aides. The arrest reportedly took place at around 6 a.m. local time at his home in the gated Jardim Botanico neighborhood.

“He has been imprisoned, but I don’t know why,” Bolsonaro’s lawyer Celso Vilardi told AFP, while aide Andriely Cirino confirmed his transfer to the federal police headquarters in Brasilia to The Associated Press.

Conviction Details

The 70-year-old former president, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was convicted in September for attempting to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 election. The conviction came after rioters stormed government buildings, an event widely compared to the January 6 Capitol riot in the US.

Bolsonaro’s legal team had previously requested that he serve his sentence under house arrest, citing health concerns, but all appeals were exhausted. The far-right leader is now expected to begin serving his sentence imminently.

International Repercussions

The case has drawn international attention. Former US President Donald Trump, a close ally of Bolsonaro, criticized the prosecution as a “witch-hunt” and raised the issue in US-Brazil relations, including imposing tariffs as leverage.

Recently, Lula and Trump held a constructive meeting at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, with Lula noting that both countries’ teams would begin negotiations to address tariffs and strengthen bilateral relations.

Bolsonaro’s arrest marks a significant moment in Brazil’s post-election accountability process, highlighting ongoing tensions over the events following the 2022 election and the country’s approach to upholding democratic institutions.
Tagged:

CoupAttempt

BrazilPolitics

JairBolsonaro

Lula
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