Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro. File
| Photo Credit: AP
Brazil’s federal police stated that messages discovered on the phone of embattled former President Jair Bolsonaro confirmed that at one level, he wished to flee to Argentina and request political asylum, in accordance to paperwork seen Wednesday (August 20, 2025) by the Associated Press.
Mr. Bolsonaro is presently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling about an alleged coup try, and on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) discovered he would possibly face one other case as police formally accused him and one among his sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, of obstruction of justice in connection together with his pending trial.
The AP had entry to the police investigation, messaging app exchanges, voice messages and reviewed the paperwork, which have been despatched to Brazil’s Supreme Court.
The 170-page police report stated that Mr. Bolsonaro had drafted a request for political asylum from Argentine President Javier Milei’s authorities dated February 10, 2024. Mr. Bolsonaro saved the doc two days after authorities searched his residence and workplace as a part of an investigation into an alleged coup plot.
In a 33-page letter addressed to Mr. Milei, Mr. Bolsonaro claimed he was being politically persecuted in Brazil.
“I, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, request political asylum from Your Excellency in the Republic of Argentina, under an urgent regime, as I find myself in a situation of political persecution in Brazil and fear for my life,” the previous Brazilian chief wrote.
Argentina’s presidential spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Mr. Bolsonaro didn’t make feedback concerning the investigation both.
On February 12, Mr. Bolsonaro reportedly spent two nights on the Hungarian Embassy in Brasília, fueling hypothesis amongst critics that he might have been making an attempt to keep away from arrest.
Brazilian federal police investigators additionally stated of their report that Bolsonaro’s determination to ignore precautionary measures established for his home arrest and unfold content material to his allies “sought to directly hit Brazilian democratic institutions, notably the Supreme Court and even Brazil’s Congress”.
With regards to Wednesday’s (August 20, 2025) obstruction of justice accusations, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a lawmaker who has lived within the United States, stated in a press release that he “never aimed at interfering in any ongoing proceedings in Brazil.” He added the conversations together with his father which might be a part of the investigation are “absolutely normal” and its publication has a political bias.
Silas Malafaia, an evangelical pastor who’s a staunch ally of Mr. Bolsonaro’s, was additionally focused by police. He had his passport seized by investigators however was not formally accused of obstruction of justice.
Several messages exchanged between Mr. Bolsonaro and his son present their curiosity in praising U.S. President Donald Trump to have an effect on authorized proceedings in Brazil. Last month, Mr. Trump imposed 50% tariffs on some Brazilian exports and claimed the trial of the previous President was the primary purpose for his sanctions.
“You won’t have time to reverse the situation if the guy here turns his back on you. Everything here is very touchy; every little thing affects you,” Mr. Eduardo Bolsonaro advised his father in one of many exchanges.
“In today’s situation, you don’t even need to worry about jail; you won’t be arrested. But I’m afraid things will change here (in the United States). Even inside the White House, there are people telling (Trump): OK, Brazil is gone. Let’s move on’,” Mr. Eduardo Bolsonaro stated.
Some exchanges additionally present friction sauced with expletives between father and son. Mr. Eduardo Bolsonaro, who moved to the U.S. earlier this 12 months regardless of holding a seat in Brazil’s congress, calls Mr. Jair Bolsonaro “ungrateful” for his efforts to affect the Trump administration of their favor.
Mr. Eduardo Bolsonaro additionally asks his father to “ACT RESPONSIBLY” so he does not have to stay for much longer within the U.S.
Published – August 21, 2025 06:38 am IST