Bolsonaro charged in coup plot: Brazilian crisis deepens

Last week, the Brazilian federal police formally charged Jair Bolsonaro and his 36 associates with participating in a conspiracy to overthrow the government.

The final report, spanning 884 pages, was submitted to the Supreme Court, which declassified it. It points to the former president's direct involvement in criminal activities related to the attempted coup.

During one of Bolsonaro's meetings with the armed forces commanders, a coup plan was presented. According to Reuters, navy admiral Almir Garnier declared support for this plan, in contrast to the land and air forces commanders, who refused. The report shows that Bolsonaro was also aware of plans to assassinate the newly elected President Lula and Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin.

- It will be either a civil war now or civil war later. We have a justification now for civil war. People are on the streets. We have massive support (...). Let’s do this now. Speak to 01 - says Colonel Roberto Raimundo Criscuoli, a high-ranking army special forces officer, in one of the recordings. "01" is a term used in reference to the President of Brazil.

In connection with suspicions regarding the coup plans, five people were arrested, including four high-ranking officers. Bolsonaro denies the charges, and the decision on further proceedings against him will be made by Attorney General Paulo Gonet. The accusations also return that the former president questioned the election results, which he lost, without providing evidence of electoral fraud.

After losing the 2022 elections, Bolsonaro left Brazil and went to the United States, which was commented on as an attempt to avoid accountability. His supporters demanded that the military side with Bolsonaro, and a week after Lula's inauguration, they stormed key government buildings in Brasília, causing destruction.

The court barred Bolsonaro from seeking re-election until 2030, citing attempts to undermine democracy.