Brazil indicts 39 Bolsonaro’s supporters over Congress riot
39 persons have been charged by Brazil’s attorney general for allegedly taking part in the invasion of the Senate building on January 8.
Thousands of Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters attacked government buildings during the unrest after he lost the election last year.
In an effort to overthrow democracy, the unnamed demonstrators, according to the indictment, used violence and threats, the BBC reports.
Bolsonaro acknowledged the turmoil and expressed “regret,” but he denied starting it. It has been seen as posing a danger to the democratic system, which is delicate in a nation where military rule came to an end in 1985.
The far-right leader, who departed Brazil to avoid witnessing the inauguration of his successor, the seasoned leftist politician Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is currently in the United States.
Bolsonaro’s followers were miffed by Lula’s electoral triumph in October. After being convicted of corruption in 2017, Lula served time in jail before his charges were overturned.
Following the unrest on January 8th, during which protesters forced their way inside the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court, hundreds of arrests have been made.
President Lula and other international leaders criticized the images, which left dozens Brazilian police officers hurt.
Authorities in Brasilia have promised to increase security at targeted places by more than double.
The Supreme Court received an indictment on Monday accusing 39 people of crimes including coup plotting and property destruction.
