Brazil’s political landscape was rocked this week as former President Jair Bolsonaro began serving a 27-year prison sentence, following a unanimous decision by the First Panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court to uphold his conviction for orchestrating a coup attempt after losing the 2022 presidential election. The court’s ruling on November 25, 2025, marks a historic and controversial moment in Latin America’s largest democracy, with reactions reverberating far beyond the country’s borders.
The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered in a four-to-zero vote by Justices Alexandre de Moraes, Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, and Cármen Lúcia, ratified earlier orders for the immediate imprisonment of Bolsonaro and six of his top allies. According to Agência Brasil, the charges included armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d’état, aggravated damage by violence and serious threat, and deterioration of listed national heritage. The verdict followed the expiration of the defense’s window to file new appeals, solidifying the court’s final judgment.
Bolsonaro’s sentence—27 years and three months—is being served at the Federal Police Headquarters in Brasília. Federal police confirmed to Euronews and The Associated Press that the former president is held in an isolated 12-square-meter room equipped with a bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, television, and a desk. While his lawyers and medical team have unrestricted access, all other visitors require Supreme Court approval. The special conditions reflect Bolsonaro’s status as a former head of state and the high-profile nature of his case.
Bolsonaro’s path to incarceration was dramatic. Since August 4, 2025, he had been under house arrest, a measure linked to a separate investigation involving U.S. tariffs on Brazilian exports. On November 22, he was taken into preventive detention after allegedly tampering with his electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro claimed his actions were the result of “hallucinations” brought on by medication, but, as noted by TheWeek.com and The Associated Press, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes dismissed this explanation outright. During his subsequent custody hearing, Bolsonaro reportedly confessed to using a soldering iron to tamper with the device, describing a mental breakdown.
The list of those convicted alongside Bolsonaro reads like a who’s who of his administration. Walter Braga Netto, former minister and 2022 vice-presidential candidate, received a 26-year sentence and is being held at the Military District in Rio de Janeiro. Almir Garnier, ex-Navy commander, is serving 24 years at Navy facilities in Brasília. Anderson Torres, former Minister of Justice, is also serving 24 years at the Papuda Penitentiary Complex. Augusto Heleno, ex-Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet, received 21 years; Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, former Minister of Defense, 19 years—both are at the Planalto Military Command. Alexandre Ramagem, once director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, was sentenced to 16 years, one month, and 15 days, but remains a fugitive in Miami, as reported by Agência Brasil.
On November 26, six of the convicted, already in custody, were scheduled for videoconference custody hearings in their respective detention locations. These proceedings, overseen by auxiliary judges of Justice de Moraes, served as legal formalities, marking the official start of their sentences.
The defense teams for Bolsonaro and his allies have been vocal in their indignation and disagreement with the court’s decision. Bolsonaro’s lawyers expressed surprise at the immediate execution of the sentence, arguing that, “he still has the right to file another appeal,” citing Supreme Court internal regulations. Braga Netto’s lawyer, José Luis Oliveira, called the conviction “absolutely unjust and contrary to the evidence in the case,” further stating, “the process is ending as it began: with the systematic violation of the right to defense.” Augusto Heleno’s defense described the proceedings as “illegal and persecutory,” vowing a “tireless and uncompromising” fight for his acquittal. Anderson Torres’s team, while expressing “serenity,” lamented that “numerous pieces of evidence showing he was not involved, directly or indirectly, in any attempted coup d’état were not even considered.” Paulo Sérgio’s lawyer, Andrew Fernandes, insisted, “the motions for clarification were not dilatory,” and argued that the court had failed to properly address the defense’s acquittal arguments.
Despite the Supreme Court’s declaration that all legal avenues have been exhausted, Bolsonaro’s legal team continues to seek house arrest, citing health concerns. Justice de Moraes has thus far rejected these requests, but left open the possibility of reconsideration should circumstances change. Analysts, as reported by The New York Times and CNN, expect Bolsonaro may ultimately be allowed to serve part of his sentence at home, but for now, his imprisonment is definitive and unprecedented.
Public reaction has been deeply polarized. According to The Associated Press, Bolsonaro’s supporters have gathered outside the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, demanding his release, while his opponents have celebrated what they see as justice for an attempted subversion of democracy. The Washington Post noted the astonishment among many Brazilians who doubted that Bolsonaro would ever be incarcerated, given his stature and the country’s fraught political history.
Internationally, the case has drawn significant attention. The New York Times reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump used “some of the strongest tools at his disposal—including tariffs on coffee and beef and sanctions on judges—to force Brazil to drop the charges against Bolsonaro.” However, Brazil’s institutions “essentially ignored him,” and Trump’s efforts ultimately “backfired.” The situation has been compared to recent events in South Korea and France, where former leaders have faced criminal charges and even jail time, signaling a potential shift in global accountability for heads of state.
Bolsonaro’s conviction marks the first time a former Brazilian president has been found guilty of attempting to subvert the nation’s democracy. The charges stem from a plot that included encouraging unrest in early 2023 and planning attacks on President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice de Moraes. The court’s ruling not only cements Bolsonaro’s personal fate but also serves as a stark warning to political leaders across the region about the consequences of undermining democratic institutions.
As Brazil enters this new chapter, the country remains divided, with questions about the future of its democracy and the precedent set by Bolsonaro’s imprisonment. For now, the former president’s fate is sealed behind the walls of the Federal Police headquarters, a symbol of both justice served and the deep rifts that persist in Brazilian society.
