Former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro was formally charged on Tuesday (Feb 18) over an alleged coup attempt after his 2022 election loss. Investigations by Brazil's attorney general also discovered a plot to assassinate current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, to whom Bolsonaro lost the election battle, reports said.&nbsp;
Alongside Bolsonaro, 33 others have been charged over an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-brazil-prez-bolsonaro-denied-passport-for-donald-trumps-inauguration-8628355">Ex-Brazil Prez Bolsonaro denied passport for Donald Trump's inauguration</a>
<h2>What are the charges against them?</h2>
Bolsonaro, 69, and his co-accused face five charges linked to a supposed conspiracy to prevent President Lula from assuming office after a contentious election battle, reported AFP news agency.
Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco presented the charges to Brazil&rsquo;s Supreme Court, citing "manuscripts, digital files, spreadsheets, and exchanges of messages that reveal the scheme to disrupt the democratic order".
In a statement, the attorney general's office revealed that the charges include "armed criminal organisation," allegedly led by the former president and his former vice-presidential candidate, Walter Braga Netto.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-bolsonaro-ally-arrested-brazils-ex-defense-minister-braga-netto-accused-of-coup-attempt-784010">Top Bolsonaro ally arrested: Brazil's ex-Defence Minister Braga Netto accused of coup attempt</a>
"Allied with other individuals, including civilians and military personnel, they attempted to prevent, in a coordinated manner, the result of the 2022 presidential elections from being fulfilled," said the statement.
Authorities say Bolsonaro "actively participated" in a long-term strategy that began in 2021, with "systematic attacks on the electronic voting system, through public statements and on the internet."
These efforts, prosecutors argued, escalated into direct attempts to "prevent voters from voting for the opposition candidate," culminating in "the acts of violence and vandalism on January 8, 2023."
On 8 January 2023, Bolsonaro supporters stormed key government buildings in Bras&iacute;lia &mdash; the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-finding-own-political-revival-in-trumps-win-hoping-for-us-sanctions-on-brasilia-780347">Bolsonaro finding own political revival in Trump&rsquo;s win, hoping for US sanctions on Brazil</a>
<h2>Evidence of a broader conspiracy</h2>
Prosecutors also alleged that Bolsonaro's 'criminal organisation' pressured military leaders "in favour of forceful actions in the political scene to prevent the elected president from taking office."
More alarmingly, the investigation uncovered a suspected assassination plot targeting Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and a Supreme Court judge, reportedly "with the approval of" Bolsonaro.
The January 8 riots, in which Bolsonaro supporters demanded military intervention, were described as "the final attempt" to prevent the transition of power.
<h2>Bolsonaro's response</h2>
Bolsonaro has denied all accusations, dismissing the case as political "persecution."&nbsp;
Hours before the charges were filed, the right-wing leader told reporters in Bras&iacute;lia that he had "no concern" about being indicted.
The Supreme Court will now decide whether to proceed with a trial against the former president. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face severe legal consequences.
(With inputs from agencies)

World News | Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and allies face formal charges of conspiracy and an alleged coup attempt after the election loss to President Lula da Silva.

Former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro was formally charged on Tuesday (Feb 18) over an alleged coup attempt after his 2022 election loss. Investigations by Brazil's attorney general also discovered a plot to assassinate current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, to whom Bolsonaro lost the election battle, reports said. Alongside Bolsonaro, 33 others have been charged over an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. Also read | Ex-Brazil Prez Bolsonaro denied passport for Donald Trump's inauguration What are the charges against them? Bolsonaro, 69, and his co-accused face five charges linked to a supposed conspiracy to prevent President Lula from assuming office after a contentious election battle, reported AFP news agency. Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco presented the charges to Brazil’s Supreme Court, citing "manuscripts, digital files, spreadsheets, and exchanges of messages that reveal the scheme to disrupt the democratic order". In a statement, the attorney general's office revealed that the charges include "armed criminal organisation," allegedly led by the former president and his former vice-presidential candidate, Walter Braga Netto. Also read | Top Bolsonaro ally arrested: Brazil's ex-Defence Minister Braga Netto accused of coup attempt "Allied with other individuals, including civilians and military personnel, they attempted to prevent, in a coordinated manner, the result of the 2022 presidential elections from being fulfilled," said the statement. Authorities say Bolsonaro "actively participated" in a long-term strategy that began in 2021, with "systematic attacks on the electronic voting system, through public statements and on the internet." These efforts, prosecutors argued, escalated into direct attempts to "prevent voters from voting for the opposition candidate," culminating in "the acts of violence and vandalism on January 8, 2023." On 8 January 2023, Bolsonaro supporters stormed key government buildings in Brasília — the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court. Also read | Bolsonaro finding own political revival in Trump’s win, hoping for US sanctions on Brazil Evidence of a broader conspiracy Prosecutors also alleged that Bolsonaro's 'criminal organisation' pressured military leaders "in favour of forceful actions in the political scene to prevent the elected president from taking office." More alarmingly, the investigation uncovered a suspected assassination plot targeting Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and a Supreme Court judge, reportedly "with the approval of" Bolsonaro. The January 8 riots, in which Bolsonaro supporters demanded military intervention, were described as "the final attempt" to prevent the transition of power. Bolsonaro's response Bolsonaro has denied all accusations, dismissing the case as political "persecution." Hours before the charges were filed, the right-wing leader told reporters in Brasília that he had "no concern" about being indicted. The Supreme Court will now decide whether to proceed with a trial against the former president. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face severe legal consequences. (With inputs from agencies)

Brazil charges Bolsonaro with conspiracy to overturn 2022 election results and assassinate Lula

A day after the trial began against pro-Bolosnaro rioters who stormed the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace on January 8, the apex court has sentenced&nbsp;a defendant to 17 years in prison on charges including an attempted coup.

51-year-old Aecio Pereira, the accused, was unanimously convicted by the&nbsp;court's 11 justices who found him&nbsp;guilty of all five charges he faced for invading the Congress building. Pereira faced charges related to&nbsp;violent uprising against the rule of law, attempted coup, armed criminal conspiracy, damaging a national heritage site and aggravated property destruction.

"The (rioters') objective was to violently seize Brasilia and spread a criminal attack against the rule of law across the country," said Justice Cristiano Zanin while delivering the verdict.&nbsp;

During the hearing, Pereira denied any wrongdoing but an obscene&nbsp;video that he made on the day, wearing&nbsp;a T-shirt marked "Military Intervention" at the Senate president's table proved to be one of the jarring pieces of evidence against him.&nbsp;

His lawyers argued that&nbsp;Pereira, a former&nbsp;employee of the Sao Paulo municipal sanitation company, was unarmed and committed no acts of violence. However, in the video, he could be heard&nbsp;urging fellow Bolsonaro supporters to "take to the streets".&nbsp;

Pereira is one of the four defendants who will be facing music in court for their actions, which drew&nbsp;eerie similarities to the January 6 insurrection attempt by former US president Donald Trump&nbsp;supporters in 2021 at the US Capitol Hill.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-president-lula-hints-at-inside-job-in-the-brasilia-riots-552098">Also read | Brazil President Lula hints at inside job in the Brasilia riots</a>

Notably, during the opening remarks on Wednesday (September 13), Judge Alexandre de Moraes took a scathing view of the rioters and said&nbsp;insurrectionists had rampaged through the heart of Brazilian democracy&nbsp;whilst showing "utter contempt for the republic and imbued with the audacity of ignorance”.

<h2>Attempted coup by Bolsonaro supporters&nbsp;</h2>

Over 2,000 rioters were arrested in the aftermath of what Bolsonaro's&nbsp;leftwing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called an attempted coup d’état.&nbsp;The rioters, also referred to as "Bolsonaristas", looted offices, destroyed public property, desecrated precious works of art and left ugly graffiti messages calling for a military coup to overthrow the Lula administration.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/supporters-of-brazils-bolsonaro-storm-presidential-palace-550588" target="_blank">WATCH | Supporters of Brazil's Bolsonaro storm Presidential palace</a><iframe allow="accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-25="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-31="true" data-src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/supporters-of-brazils-bolsonaro-storm-presidential-palace-550588/embed?autoplay=0" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="lazy" title="live tv" width="100%"></iframe>

Bolsonaro's unruly far-right supporters followed the&nbsp;line taken by their leader who believed that the presidential election was rigged against him as Lula won by a razor-thin margin.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A day after the trial began against pro-Bolosnaro rioters who stormed the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace on January 8, the apex court has sentenced a defendant to 17 years in prison on charges including an attempted coup.

A day after the trial began against pro-Bolosnaro rioters who stormed the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace on January 8, the apex court has sentenced a defendant to 17 years in prison on charges including an attempted coup. 51-year-old Aecio Pereira, the accused, was unanimously convicted by the court's 11 justices who found him guilty of all five charges he faced for invading the Congress building. Pereira faced charges related to violent uprising against the rule of law, attempted coup, armed criminal conspiracy, damaging a national heritage site and aggravated property destruction. "The (rioters') objective was to violently seize Brasilia and spread a criminal attack against the rule of law across the country," said Justice Cristiano Zanin while delivering the verdict. During the hearing, Pereira denied any wrongdoing but an obscene video that he made on the day, wearing a T-shirt marked "Military Intervention" at the Senate president's table proved to be one of the jarring pieces of evidence against him. His lawyers argued that Pereira, a former employee of the Sao Paulo municipal sanitation company, was unarmed and committed no acts of violence. However, in the video, he could be heard urging fellow Bolsonaro supporters to "take to the streets". Pereira is one of the four defendants who will be facing music in court for their actions, which drew eerie similarities to the January 6 insurrection attempt by former US president Donald Trump supporters in 2021 at the US Capitol Hill. Also read | Brazil President Lula hints at inside job in the Brasilia riots Notably, during the opening remarks on Wednesday (September 13), Judge Alexandre de Moraes took a scathing view of the rioters and said insurrectionists had rampaged through the heart of Brazilian democracy whilst showing "utter contempt for the republic and imbued with the audacity of ignorance”. Attempted coup by Bolsonaro supporters Over 2,000 rioters were arrested in the aftermath of what Bolsonaro's leftwing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called an attempted coup d’état. The rioters, also referred to as "Bolsonaristas", looted offices, destroyed public property, desecrated precious works of art and left ugly graffiti messages calling for a military coup to overthrow the Lula administration. WATCH | Supporters of Brazil's Bolsonaro storm Presidential palace Bolsonaro's unruly far-right supporters followed the line taken by their leader who believed that the presidential election was rigged against him as Lula won by a razor-thin margin. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Brazil: 17-year prison sentence for pro-Bolsonaro defendant in January 8 riots

Nine months after former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro's supporters stormed&nbsp;the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace after his loss in the election, the country's apex court has opened the first trials.&nbsp;

On Wednesday (September 13), the first four accused went on trial before the Supreme Court in the capital city of Brasilia. The SC building was ransacked on January 8 by&nbsp;thousands of Bolsonaro supporters who allegedly attempted to overturn the election -&nbsp;drawing&nbsp;eerie similarities to the January 6 insurrection attempt by former US president Donald Trump&nbsp;supporters in 2021 at the US Capitol Hill.&nbsp;

Judge Alexandre de Moraes presiding over the case in his opening remarks said the&nbsp;insurrectionists had rampaged through the heart of Brazilian democracy, “showing utter contempt for the republic and imbued with the audacity of ignorance”.

“But let me be clear: they did not destroy the spirit of democracy. The enemies of freedom should know that, in the hallowed ground of this court, the permanently cultivated democratic system remains unshaken," added the judge.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-president-lula-hints-at-inside-job-in-the-brasilia-riots-552098">Also read | Brazil President Lula hints at inside job in the Brasilia riots</a>

Prosecutor Carlos Frederico Santos maintained a similar defiant note as he opened the case against&nbsp;51-year-old Aécio Lúcio Costa Pereira, accused of being part of an “armed and anti-democratic mob”.&nbsp;

"We have turned the page on the days of coups. Those who embrace the spurious idea that power can be won through violence and in violation of constitutional norms must respond for the resulting crimes,"&nbsp;Santos told the court, adding that the case was a "milestone" for the count which returned to&nbsp;democracy in the 1980s.&nbsp;

“It is important to note that Brazil long ago ceased to be a banana republic. We have turned the page on coups d’état in our history.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/supporters-of-brazils-bolsonaro-storm-presidential-palace-550588" target="_blank">WATCH | Supporters of Brazil's Bolsonaro storm Presidential palace</a><iframe allow="accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-25="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-31="true" data-src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/supporters-of-brazils-bolsonaro-storm-presidential-palace-550588/embed?autoplay=0" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="lazy" title="live tv" width="100%"></iframe>

<h2>Attempted coup by Bolsonaro supporters&nbsp;</h2>

Over 2,000 rioters were arrested in the aftermath of what Bolsonaro's&nbsp;leftwing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called an attempted coup d’état.&nbsp;The rioters, also referred to as "Bolsonaristas" looted offices, destroyed public property, desecrated precious words of art and left ugly graffiti messages calling for a military coup to overthrow the Lula administration.

Bolsonaro's unruly far-right supporters followed the&nbsp;line taken by their leader who believed that the presidential election was rigged against him as Lula won by a razor-thin margin.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Nine months after former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro's supporters stormed the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace after his loss in the election, the country's apex court has opened the first trials.

Nine months after former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro's supporters stormed the Supreme Court of Brazil, the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace after his loss in the election, the country's apex court has opened the first trials. On Wednesday (September 13), the first four accused went on trial before the Supreme Court in the capital city of Brasilia. The SC building was ransacked on January 8 by thousands of Bolsonaro supporters who allegedly attempted to overturn the election - drawing eerie similarities to the January 6 insurrection attempt by former US president Donald Trump supporters in 2021 at the US Capitol Hill. Judge Alexandre de Moraes presiding over the case in his opening remarks said the insurrectionists had rampaged through the heart of Brazilian democracy, “showing utter contempt for the republic and imbued with the audacity of ignorance”. “But let me be clear: they did not destroy the spirit of democracy. The enemies of freedom should know that, in the hallowed ground of this court, the permanently cultivated democratic system remains unshaken," added the judge. Also read | Brazil President Lula hints at inside job in the Brasilia riots Prosecutor Carlos Frederico Santos maintained a similar defiant note as he opened the case against 51-year-old Aécio Lúcio Costa Pereira, accused of being part of an “armed and anti-democratic mob”. "We have turned the page on the days of coups. Those who embrace the spurious idea that power can be won through violence and in violation of constitutional norms must respond for the resulting crimes," Santos told the court, adding that the case was a "milestone" for the count which returned to democracy in the 1980s. “It is important to note that Brazil long ago ceased to be a banana republic. We have turned the page on coups d’état in our history.” WATCH | Supporters of Brazil's Bolsonaro storm Presidential palace Attempted coup by Bolsonaro supporters Over 2,000 rioters were arrested in the aftermath of what Bolsonaro's leftwing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called an attempted coup d’état. The rioters, also referred to as "Bolsonaristas" looted offices, destroyed public property, desecrated precious words of art and left ugly graffiti messages calling for a military coup to overthrow the Lula administration. Bolsonaro's unruly far-right supporters followed the line taken by their leader who believed that the presidential election was rigged against him as Lula won by a razor-thin margin. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trial begins over January 8 riots in Brazil Supreme Court

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was on Friday (April 14) ordered to face questioning over the January 8 riots. Supporters of far-right Bolsonaro invaded and defaced the country's Congress, presidential palace, and the Supreme Court on January 8, protesting his defeat by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in last year's election. Over 1,800 people were arrested in the riots.&nbsp;

On Friday, Supreme Court judge Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled Jair Bolsonaro had to appear before the federal police within 10 days to answer questions over accusations he incited the rioters, the news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

"I grant the request by the prosecutor general's office and determine the federal police must take Jair Messias Bolsonaro's testimony within a maximum of 10 days," Moraes wrote in the ruling.&nbsp;

Earlier, Moraes ruled on January 13 that Bolsonaro be placed under investigation in the case. However, the Supreme Court judge postponed the ruling on a request by prosecutors for Bolsonaro to be questioned, as the former Brazilian president was in Florida, United States at the time.

Bolsonaro was in the US for three months after his defeat in the election and returned to Brazil on March 30. Prosecutors had asked for Bolsonaro to face questioning over a video he posted online two days after the riots, questioning the legitimacy of Lula's election. The video was later deleted.&nbsp;

The prosecutors, however, said their probe of Bolsonaro &nbsp;would not be limited to the video, but a "full investigation of all acts before and after January 8." 
The former president has denied any involvement in the riots.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was on Friday (April 14) ordered to face questioning over the January 8 riots. Supporters of far-right Bolsonaro invaded and defaced the country's Congress, presidential palace, and the Supreme Court on January 8, protesting his defeat by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in last year's election.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was on Friday (April 14) ordered to face questioning over the January 8 riots. Supporters of far-right Bolsonaro invaded and defaced the country's Congress, presidential palace, and the Supreme Court on January 8, protesting his defeat by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in last year's election. Over 1,800 people were arrested in the riots. On Friday, Supreme Court judge Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled Jair Bolsonaro had to appear before the federal police within 10 days to answer questions over accusations he incited the rioters, the news agency AFP reported. "I grant the request by the prosecutor general's office and determine the federal police must take Jair Messias Bolsonaro's testimony within a maximum of 10 days," Moraes wrote in the ruling. Earlier, Moraes ruled on January 13 that Bolsonaro be placed under investigation in the case. However, the Supreme Court judge postponed the ruling on a request by prosecutors for Bolsonaro to be questioned, as the former Brazilian president was in Florida, United States at the time. Bolsonaro was in the US for three months after his defeat in the election and returned to Brazil on March 30. Prosecutors had asked for Bolsonaro to face questioning over a video he posted online two days after the riots, questioning the legitimacy of Lula's election. The video was later deleted. The prosecutors, however, said their probe of Bolsonaro would not be limited to the video, but a "full investigation of all acts before and after January 8." The former president has denied any involvement in the riots. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro ordered to face questioning over Jan 8 riots

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Brazil charges Bolsonaro with conspiracy to overturn 2022 election results and assassinate Lula

Brazil: 17-year prison sentence for pro-Bolsonaro defendant in January 8 riots

Trial begins over January 8 riots in Brazil Supreme Court

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro ordered to face questioning over Jan 8 riots