Bolsonaro Placed Under Court Restrictions Amid Coup Charges

The Brazilian legal system is scrutinizing former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been ordered to wear an ankle bracelet and adhere to a curfew while standing trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro denies all allegations, branding them politically motivated.

A Brazilian court has mandated that former President Jair Bolsonaro wear an ankle tag and observe a nighttime curfew due to concerns he may flee as he faces trial for allegedly conspiring to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023. Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 until 2022, faces serious charges tied to an attempted coup following his narrow election defeat.

The court's decision, announced by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, comes on the heels of police raids at Bolsonaro's residence and political headquarters. The judge expressed that Bolsonaro, along with his son Eduardo, has been actively seeking sanctions against Brazilian officials and has made attempts to obstruct justice throughout the trial process. In a striking measure, Bolsonaro has also been barred from social media and prevented from communicating with specific individuals abroad, including foreign diplomats and his son.

Following these rulings, Bolsonaro condemned the court's actions as a "supreme humiliation", asserting that he never intended to leave Brazil. His legal representatives reacted with astonishment, claiming that Bolsonaro has always complied with court directives. However, Brazilian Federal Police allege that the former president has engaged in actions that may jeopardize the integrity of the judicial process and national sovereignty.

The situation has been further complicated by pressures from the United States, with President Donald Trump suggesting a potential 50% tariff on Brazilian goods in response to the proceedings against Bolsonaro. Lula has asserted that he would counter any such tariffs, reinforcing Brazil's sovereignty and the principle that no one is above the law. The political landscape intensifies as Trump deems the criminal charges against Bolsonaro "political persecution," drawing parallels to his own legal trials.

Bolsonaro's trial includes seven co-defendants charged with serious offenses such as attempting a coup, forming an armed criminal organization, and violent disruption of democratic processes. If convicted, Bolsonaro—a veteran politician at 70—could face extensive prison time.

This inquiry traces its roots to the events of January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed key government sites in a bid to overturn Lula's inauguration. At the time, Bolsonaro was in the United States and has persistently denied any involvement in the coup attempt or connections with the rioters. Investigators soon launched an exhaustive probe, uncovering evidence of an allegedly coordinated criminal organization aimed at undermining Lula’s presidency.

Further complicating his legal woes, Brazil's Attorney General has accused Bolsonaro of not only being complicit but of potentially leading such operations to maintain his power and disrupt the democratic order. The latest developments signal a significant escalation in the ongoing political turmoil in Brazil and reflect larger implications on international diplomatic relations.