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For the first time in its history, Brazil sentences military officers and a former president for attempting a coup d’état

September 13, 2025

Brazil's Supreme Court has convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven others for plotting a coup d'état following his 2022 election loss, with sentences ranging from 2-27 years in prison. This historic ruling marks the first time Brazil has not granted amnesty for a coup attempt, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes arguing that Bolsonaro had been plotting since 2021, escalating attacks on the electoral system that culminated in the January 8, 2023 storming of government buildings. The conviction comes under the Law of Crimes Against Democracy, which Bolsonaro himself signed in 2021, and has created diplomatic tensions with the United States under President Trump, whose allies have threatened responses to what they call a "witch hunt.

Who is affected

  • Former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven other defendants, including five military officers and two other top government members
  • Brazilian citizens and the country's democratic institutions
  • Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act
  • The eight Supreme Court justices who had their U.S. visas suspended
  • Bolsonaro supporters ("bolsonaristas") who are holding vigils
  • Brazil-U.S. diplomatic relations

What action is being taken

  • The Supreme Court is sentencing Bolsonaro and the other defendants, with sentences varying from 2-27 years in prison
  • Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest for failing to comply with legal decisions
  • Eduardo Bolsonaro (the former president's son) is working with U.S. officials to arrange sanctions and create political pressure on the Brazilian government
  • U.S. officials have sanctioned Justice Alexandre de Moraes and suspended visas for eight Supreme Court justices
  • Bolsonaro supporters are conducting a vigil outside his gated community in Brasília

Why it matters

  • This represents the first time Brazil has not granted amnesty for a coup attempt, breaking with the country's historical pattern
  • The case occurs as Brazil marks 40 years since its return to democracy
  • The conviction extends Bolsonaro's political ineligibility beyond the eight years previously imposed by the Electoral Court
  • It creates international tensions between Brazil and the United States under the Trump administration
  • The case establishes a precedent for accountability in attempts to overthrow democratic institutions in Brazil

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices