Former President Jair Bolsonaro Arrested in Brazil

Brasília, Brazil – Former President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested early Saturday morning, November 22, 2025, on a preventive basis following a request from the Federal Police (PF) to the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The arrest is a precautionary measure and is not directly related to his 27-year prison sentence tied to a coup attempt.

The order was issued by Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the STF. Moraes stated that there was an elevated risk of Bolsonaro fleeing justice after an event supporting him was organized by his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, outside the former president’s condominium on the night of November 21. The minister expressed concerns that this vigil could potentially be used to aid in Bolsonaro’s escape.

Moraes noted that the integrated monitoring center of the Federal District informed the STF about these risks. The decision to arrest was partly based on Bolsonaro’s previous attempts to evade justice, including a plan discussed during the investigation for him to seek asylum in Argentina.

Bolsonaro was taken into custody around 6 a.m. and was calm during the arrest. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, was not home at the time. Following procedural processes, he was transported to the PF Superintendence in the Federal District, where he is expected to stay in a designated ‘State Room’ reserved for high-profile detainees.

As of this report’s latest update, Bolsonaro was undergoing a medical examination to document any injuries. The PF confirmed that they acted on a preventive arrest warrant issued by the STF.

The measure comes after Bolsonaro had been under house arrest since August 4 for violating several court-imposed restrictions. Moraes stated that the ex-president had used social media to propagate messages encouraging attacks on the STF, as well as endorsing foreign interventions in the Brazilian judiciary.

Bolsonaro was convicted in September for leading a criminal organization aimed at staging a coup and is currently appealing the conviction. His defense argues that the sentence is based on weak evidence and legal inconsistencies. They recently requested a switch to house arrest due to Bolsonaro’s serious health conditions.

Communicating through closed channels, Bolsonaro previously stated he was ready for his arrest, reflecting a significant shift from his earlier claims that he would never be imprisoned. This arrest marks a significant moment in Brazilian politics that has been unfolding since the days of his presidency.