• Former President Jair Bolsonaro was ordered to begin serving his prison sentence after sabotaging his house arrest.
  • Authorities suspect he planned to exploit a supporter vigil to reach the US embassy and seek asylum.
  • The move reinforces the judiciary's assertive stance against anti-democratic actions following the 2023 coup attempt.

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving his 27-year prison sentence, imposing preventive detention after he allegedly attempted to sabotage his house arrest and flee the country. The dramatic escalation follows an incident on November 22, 2025, where Bolsonaro tampered with his electronic monitoring bracelet, triggering a police alert.

Authorities found the device damaged with burn marks, reportedly from tools like an electric knife or soldering iron, indicating a deliberate attempt to destroy it. According to people familiar with the matter, police suspected Bolsonaro was preparing to exploit a "prayer vigil" organized by his supporters to move toward the US embassy, potentially seeking asylum and evading justice. He spent his first night in preventive detention, with courts now deciding whether to place him in a high-security unit.

This development marks a significant hardening in the long-running legal proceedings against the former leader, who was convicted for his role in the failed 2023 coup attempt. The Supreme Federal Court has taken an increasingly assertive stance in holding participants and instigators of the January 2023 events accountable, viewing the case as a critical test for Brazil's democratic institutions.

Bolsonaro's legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The former president has previously attempted to seek diplomatic protection, including a controversial stay inside the Hungarian embassy in February 2024 that sparked international debate over asylum protocols.

The case continues to polarize Brazilian society, with supporters decrying political persecution while others champion the judiciary's commitment to the rule of law. The immediate economic implications remain contained, though international investors are closely watching for any signs of renewed political instability that could affect Brazil's risk profile and market confidence.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the length of Bolsonaro's original sentence. It is 27 years and 3 months.