Brazil - February 2024

On 8 February, federal police arrested four people and executed 33 search warrants, targeting allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The operation was authorized by Brazil’s Supreme Court as part of an inquiry into the 8 January storming of government buildings. Bolsonaro himself was requested to hand over his passport during the inquiry. So far, the investigation into 8 January had only resulted in the trial and conviction of citizens who broke into government buildings, but the current investigation targets Bolsonaro and close allies as organizers of the “attempted coup”. 

Weeks later, on 25 February, Bolsonaro participated in a public act in which he denied the accusations against him, with tens of thousands of protesters showing up to express their support. 

Sources: Brazil Federal Police, The Guardian, British Broadcasting Corporation