Jurists’ Association stands up against amnesty for coup plotters

This week, the Brazilian Association of Jurists for Democracy (ABJD) launched a campaign against amnesty for people convicted of involvement in the pro-coup riots of January 8, 2023.

Dubbed Anistia não, golpistas na prisão! (“No Amnesty, Coup Plotters in Jail!”), the campaign opposes the attempt by sectors of society to pass bills that would grant amnesty to those involved in the case. The initiative includes demonstrations and social media posts.

“The idea is to press for no amnesty and for accountability for the people who took part in the attempted coup d’état in our country. This amnesty would represent an endorsement for other coups to take place,” said lawyer Tereza Mansi, member of the association’s national executive board.

Mansi noted that Brazil has a history of coups d’état. “It was precisely the lack of accountability—especially in connection to the ’64 coup—that paved the way to an attempted coup now in 2023.”

Last Sunday (Mar. 16), supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrated on Copacabana Beach defending the amnesty.

Army headquartesr in Brasília from where thousands of people  headed to the Three Powers Square and stormed into buildings of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, carrying out vandalism.- Valter Campanato/Agência Brasil

January 8From

On January 8, 2022, a week after the inauguration of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, thousands of people camping in front of the Army headquarters in Brasília headed to the Three Powers Square and stormed into buildings of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, carrying out vandalism.

By December 2024, 370 people had been convicted of crimes linked to the attack—including coup d’état, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, and aggravated damage. In addition, over 500 people had signed court agreements. On March 7, 63 more people were sentenced to up to 14 years in prison.

The Federal Police and the Prosecutor-General’s Office claim that the attack was part of an attempted coup by former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies, who were charged and brought to justice in February this year.

On Tuesday (25), the Supreme Court should decide whether Bolsonaro and some of those charged will be brought to trial.

When the accusation was announced, Jair Bolsonaro’s defense lawyer, Paulo Cunha Bueno, issued a statement saying that the former president “never agreed to any movement aimed at dismantling the democratic rule of law or the institutions supporting it.”

According to the lawyer, no evidence has been found that even remotely connects the president to the narrative constructed in the charges. “There is no message from the then president to support the accusation,” he argued.