Brazil Supreme Court Orders House Arrest for Former President Jair Bolsonaro

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Brasília — Brazil’s political tensions escalated sharply on Monday after the Supreme Federal Court placed former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the ruling after Bolsonaro reportedly used third-party social media accounts to spread messages that encouraged attacks on Brazil’s judiciary and endorsed foreign interference. These actions were deemed a breach of the preventative measures issued in July, including a ban on online activity and mandatory use of an electronic ankle monitor.

“The precautionary measures were blatantly disrespected,” Moraes wrote, citing Bolsonaro’s digital activity during mass protests that erupted in support of him across several Brazilian cities.

Bolsonaro, who currently resides in a gated mansion in southern Brasília, will now be confined to house arrest with visits limited strictly to family members and legal representatives. Brazilian federal police were ordered to confiscate all communication devices found at the property.

The decision marks a significant step in the broader legal case accusing the former far-right president of attempting to overturn the 2022 election results through anti-democratic means.

The United States responded swiftly to the arrest order, calling it a “politically motivated effort to silence opposition.” The U.S. State Department also expressed concern over potential judicial overreach and reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles in Brazil.

This comes just days after Washington imposed limited sanctions against Justice Moraes over his involvement in what the U.S. calls a “questionable legal campaign” against Bolsonaro and his allies.

Bolsonaro is expected to stand trial later this year for allegedly encouraging military support and civil unrest in a failed attempt to retain power after losing the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Legal experts say a conviction could not only end Bolsonaro’s political career but also serve as a defining moment for Brazil’s young democracy.

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