Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was recently detained after months under house arrest while appealing his 27-year sentence for plotting a coup.
His lawyers have stated that the alleged attempt to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor while under house arrest was a result of health problems and medication side effects. According to the Agencia Brasil public news agency, the lawyers submitted a document citing that Bolsonaro suffers from concomitant illnesses that require treatment and takes various medications, including those affecting the central nervous system, which are known for side effects such as altered mental status, disorientation, impaired coordination, sedation, impaired balance, hallucinations, and cognitive impairment.
Bolsonaro was placed into custody after months of house arrest, with the Supreme Court set to vote on whether to uphold his pre-emptive detention. This marks a significant development in his ongoing legal battle, which includes an appeal against his 27-year sentence for attempting to overturn the results of the country’s 2022 presidential election. While Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing, his legal team has submitted evidence to the Supreme Court regarding his health conditions and the side effects of his medication.
The case stems from an alleged coup plot that began in 2021, with efforts to erode public trust in Brazil’s electoral system. After Bolsonaro’s 2022 defeat, prosecutors allege his supporters were urged to mobilize in Brasilia on January 8, 2023, leading to the storming and vandalism of the nation’s three branches of government. This incident has sparked international interest, with US President Donald Trump calling the prosecution politically motivated and imposing steep 50% tariffs on Brazil. Recently, Washington began rolling back some of these levies, and also sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for what it described as ‘serious human rights violations,’ along with visa restrictions against him and other court officials.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has condemned the US’s pressure tactics, accusing the US of having ‘helped stage a coup’ and vowing that Brazil ‘will not forget it.’ These developments underscore the complex legal and political dynamics surrounding Bolsonaro’s case, which continues to draw significant attention both domestically and internationally.