Argentina Issues Arrest Warrants for Bolsonaro Supporters After January Riots

Argentina's courts have taken action against 61 Brazilian supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who absconded to avoid jail sentences stemming from the January 2023 riots. This move follows Brazil's extradition request and coincides with escalating tensions between political factions in both nations.

Argentina has ordered the arrest of 61 Brazilian supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro who are believed to have fled across the border to avoid serving prison sentences related to the violent riots that took place in January 2023. This unrest was characterized by supporters of Bolsonaro storming Brazil's Congress in a failed attempt to unseat the newly elected leftist leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The issued warrants pertain specifically to individuals who have received "definite prison sentences," according to Judge Daniel Rafecas, as reported by Brazilian news outlet Globo. In June 2023, Brazil had previously issued an extradition request to Argentina for more than 140 rioters identified and prosecuted following the January unrest. However, this request had met skepticism, particularly due to the election of Javier Milei as Argentina's president, who is known for his friendliness towards Bolsonaro and criticism of Lula.

In a significant development earlier in October, Argentina revoked the policy of granting political asylum to convicted individuals from other countries, setting the stage for potential extradition. Following this, an Argentinian Federal Court judge has authorized the arrest warrants in response to Brazil's supreme court's earlier request. Reports indicate that local authorities have already apprehended one fugitive in La Plata, located roughly 60 kilometers from Buenos Aires.

The January 2023 riots were marked by an aggressive surge of Bolsonaro supporters who stormed key government buildings in Brasília shortly after Lula's inauguration, aiming to challenge the electoral outcome that Bolsonaro has questioned for months. As tensions mount, a recent suicide bombing incident in Brasília's Three Powers Plaza has heightened concerns about ongoing clashes between political factions. Law enforcement has identified Francisco Wanderley Luiz, a failed candidate from Bolsonaro's Liberal Party, as the perpetrator behind this troubling act of violence.