Argentina’s Judiciary Orders Arrests of Brazilians Linked to Brasilia Riots

Judicial authorities in Argentina have issued arrest warrants for 61 Brazilian individuals who are subject to prison sentences due to their participation in the Brasilia riots of the previous year. In January 2023, adherents of Brazil’s former far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, breached the Congress building in an effort to depose the recently installed left-wing administration headed by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula. A large number of these individuals were apprehended, indicted, and subsequently released on bail, with some ultimately receiving convictions and sentences. However, a number of these individuals sought refuge in Argentina to avoid serving their sentences, especially following the election of far-right politician Javier Milei as president in December 2023. According to Brazilian news outlet Globo, Judge Daniel Rafecas stated that the warrants target individuals with “convictions with definite prison sentences.” In June of the current year, Brazilian officials submitted an extradition request to Argentina, requesting assistance in the extradition of over 140 rioters who had been prosecuted. Nevertheless, many within Brazil expressed doubts about the Milei government’s willingness to comply, given that the Argentine president is an ally of Bolsonaro and a vocal opponent of Lula. Despite this, in October, Argentina revoked political asylum for individuals convicted of crimes in their country of origin. Subsequently, on Friday, a judge from an Argentine Federal Court determined that the arrest warrants ought to be issued, acknowledging the formal request from Brazil’s supreme court. Local news outlets additionally reported that local law enforcement apprehended one fugitive on Friday in La Plata city, situated approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires. The current location of the remaining rioters remains unknown. The Brazilian government holds the view that the January 2023 disturbances constituted part of a coup attempt, which they allege was orchestrated by Bolsonaro after his loss in a closely contested presidential election the preceding October. He refutes any participation. However, in the weeks subsequent to the election, he repeatedly posted claims on social media challenging the election outcomes and the reliability of Brazil’s electronic voting system. In January 2023, less than seven days after Lula’s inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro’s adherents breached the Congress building, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace in Brasília. These arrest warrants were issued merely two days subsequent to a separate incident in Brasilia’s Three Powers Plaza, where a former political candidate carried out a suicide bomb attack outside the Supreme Court. Law enforcement officials have identified the individual as Francisco Wanderley Luiz, who previously ran unsuccessfully in council elections representing Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party. This content is copyrighted by BBC in 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.