Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was moved to a different prison in Brasilia on Thursday, following an order from Supreme Federal Court (STF) judge Alexandre de Moraes, who cited the improvement in facilities.
De Moraes, a judge known for his controversial role in the “coup” trial involving Bolsonaro, has been a significant figure in a year-long period of scrutiny and strict measures against Bolsonaro and other conservative leaders. He noted that while the new accommodations are indeed better, they “aren’t a summer camp.”
Bolsonaro, now 70, was sentenced last year to more than 27 years in prison for his involvement in what was described as an “attempted coup” to overturn the 2022 presidential election results, where he narrowly lost to current socialist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Since November, Bolsonaro has been dealing with various health issues and even underwent four surgeries in a week. Initially, he was serving his sentence at the Federal Police Regional Superintendent’s Office in Brasilia. Despite his circumstances, Judge de Moraes has denied him the option of house arrest recently.
On Thursday, a ruling mandated that Bolsonaro be moved to a cell dubbed papuzinha (“Little Papuda”) within the larger Papuda prison complex situated in the capital.
According to reports, this move was advised by a judge after Bolsonaro’s sons informed Brazilian state media that his previous cell lacked “minimum standards of dignity.” De Moraes noted in his decision that the transfer does not alter Bolsonaro’s sentence, nor does it imply a “hotel stay” or “summer camp” experience.
CNN Brazil stated that the former president’s former cell measured only 12 square meters, while the new one is about 65 square meters, including a 10-square-meter outdoor area. It’s said that these new cells are “exclusively and completely segregated” from those of other inmates.
Some of the privileges granted to Bolsonaro, as listed by CNN Brazil, include access to color television, air conditioning, improved medical care, and the ability to receive physical therapy. Additionally, if hospital visits become necessary, he won’t need prior court approval.
A Brazilian outlet, poder 360, reported that in a court order, Moraes expressed concerns about a “systematic attempt to delegitimize” Bolsonaro’s ruling. The judge contended that Bolsonaro is serving his sentence under more favorable conditions than many inmates in Brazil’s closed prisons, due to special circumstances acknowledged by the STF.
Poder 360 also shared a brief video showing what the cells are like.
In the same ruling, Moraes declined another request for house arrest but allowed for “weekly religious assistance” and for Bolsonaro to participate in a program aimed at reducing his sentence through reading.
Recently, President Lula exercised his veto power against a bill that would have dramatically cut Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence down to roughly two years. Lula had indicated his plans to veto this bill back in December.
