Brasília, Brazil – Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving his 27-year prison sentence, following his conviction for plotting to foment a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election. The decision comes after Bolsonaro’s defence team chose not to file a second appeal.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a key figure in the trial, confirmed that Bolsonaro will begin his sentence at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, where he is currently held.

Bolsonaro Convicted of Coup Attempt and Election Subversion

Bolsonaro, a former army captain and member of the far-right Liberal Party (PL), served as president from 2019 to 2023. In September 2025, he was convicted of multiple charges including:

• Attempting to subvert Brazil’s democratic rule of law
• Staging a coup to remain in power
• Participating in an armed conspiracy
• Damaging public property
• Contributing to the deterioration of a national heritage site

He was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, but the sentence had been temporarily suspended to allow for appeals. The Supreme Court rejected Bolsonaro’s final appeal earlier this month.

Election Dispute and January 8, 2023, Riots

After narrowly losing the 2022 presidential election to left-wing leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro refused to publicly concede. He and his allies challenged the election results, claiming discrepancies without evidence. Justice de Moraes dismissed these claims as being in “total absence of any evidence” and fined Bolsonaro’s team nearly $4.3 million.

Bolsonaro’s supporters staged nationwide protests, blocked highways, and attacked police facilities, culminating in the January 8, 2023, storming of government buildings at Three Powers Plaza in Brasília. Federal investigations revealed that Bolsonaro and co-defendants had allegedly conspired to overturn election results, including attempts to incite a military uprising and intimidate authorities.

Recordings and testimony suggested that some allied military officers proposed extreme measures, including poisoning Lula and targeting Justice de Moraes, according to police reports.

House Arrest and Flight Concerns

Since August 2025, Bolsonaro had been under house arrest due to concerns he might flee the country. He previously spent nights at the Hungarian embassy and reportedly sought asylum from Argentina’s President Javier Milei.

Bolsonaro’s legal team requested that his sentence be served under house arrest for humanitarian reasons, citing lingering injuries from a 2018 campaign stabbing and ongoing abdominal problems. However, he was taken into custody after allegedly tampering with his ankle monitor. Justice de Moraes cited “very serious indications of a possible attempt to flee.”

International Reactions

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has attempted to influence the case, labeling the trial a “witch hunt” and imposing tariffs on Brazilian exports. Bolsonaro maintains his innocence and continues to frame the charges as politically motivated.

The Supreme Court’s ruling marks a significant moment in Brazil’s political landscape, enforcing accountability for actions threatening the country’s democratic institutions. Bolsonaro now faces the full execution of his 27-year prison sentence.