Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence After Coup Plot Conviction and Ankle Monitor Violation

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into federal police custody in Brasília on November 22, 2025, marking a dramatic turn in his legal battles. The arrest followed his alleged violation of ankle monitor conditions, which authorities characterized as an attempt to evade incarceration. This development culminates a lengthy legal process stemming from his conviction for orchestrating a coup attempt after the 2022 presidential election, as reported by grandpinnacletribune.com.

Bolsonaro, 70, began serving his 27-year prison sentence on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, after Brazil's Supreme Court ruled that all his appeals had been exhausted. The Washington Post reported that Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ordered the sentence to commence in a specially prepared cell at the federal police headquarters.

The former president's arrest on Saturday, November 22, was prompted by evidence of tampering with his electronic ankle monitor. According to globalnews.ca, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes deemed Bolsonaro a flight risk, citing the breach of judicial restrictions.

Bolsonaro had been under house arrest since August, awaiting the assignment of where he would serve his sentence. Anadolu Ajansı stated that he was convicted in September for his role in a failed 2022 coup d'état, an attempt to remain in office after losing to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

During a hearing, Bolsonaro claimed "hallucinations" and "paranoia" due to medication led him to tamper with the device, as reported by newsweek. However, Justice de Moraes dismissed this explanation, calling it "serious foul play" and "evident disrespect to the court."

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the preventive arrest was unanimous, with justices citing the admitted breach of electronic monitoring as increasing the risk of escape. Al Jazeera noted that Justice de Moraes accused Bolsonaro of "repeated" attempts to violate court orders.

This legal outcome has been met with mixed reactions across Brazil, with detractors celebrating the accountability of a former head of state. The Guardian reported that Bolsonaro's incarceration has sparked jubilation among progressive Brazilians, while his supporters condemned it as a "witch-hunt."

• Coup Plot and Conviction Details: Jair Bolsonaro was convicted in September 2025 for orchestrating a military coup attempt following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The plot, as detailed by The Hindu, included plans to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice de Moraes, and involved inciting an insurrection in early 2023. He was found guilty of multiple charges, including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.
• Ankle Monitor Violation and Arrest: Bolsonaro was taken into preventive custody on November 22, 2025, after allegedly tampering with his electronic ankle monitor. The Washington Post reported that the Supreme Court learned his monitor was breached at 12:08 a.m. on Saturday, leading to his arrest hours later. Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited "extremely serious indications of a possible escape attempt" and a planned vigil by Bolsonaro's son as factors in the arrest decision.
• Bolsonaro's Defense and Court's Rejection: During a custody hearing, Bolsonaro told an assistant judge he had "hallucinations" and "paranoia" from a change in medication, which led him to try and uncover what he believed was a wiretap in the device, according to globalnews.ca. However, Justice de Moraes, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı, stated that Bolsonaro confessed to breaking the device and deemed his actions a "willful and conscious violation" of his house arrest terms.
• Legal Process and Exhaustion of Appeals: Bolsonaro had been under house arrest since August 2025, following a ban on using social media in a separate case, as noted by The Washington Post. The Supreme Court's First Panel unanimously upheld his preventive detention on Monday, November 24, and on Tuesday, November 25, the court formally concluded his coup-plotting case, making the 27-year conviction definitive after rejecting all final appeals.
• Conditions of Imprisonment: As a former head of state, Bolsonaro will be held in a special cell at the federal police headquarters in Brasília. The Hindu described this cell as a 12-square-meter room equipped with a bed, a table, a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a TV set, ensuring he will not have contact with other inmates. This arrangement mirrors the treatment of former President Lula, who was similarly held in a special cell during his 2017 corruption conviction.
• Political and Social Implications: Bolsonaro's arrest and imprisonment have elicited strong reactions across Brazil. While many progressive Brazilians and LGBTQ+ activists, as highlighted by Al Jazeera, celebrated the move as a step towards accountability and a reduction in anti-democratic extremism, his supporters, like Ronny de Souza mentioned by The Guardian, decried it as a "witch-hunt." Political scientists, such as Camila Rocha, suggest Bolsonaro's influence has waned significantly, with recent polls showing a clear decrease in his support.
• International Context and Related Cases: The events surrounding Bolsonaro's legal troubles have drawn international attention. US President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, had previously condemned the trials as a "witch hunt" and imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods, according to cbc. Several of Bolsonaro's co-conspirators, including former Defense Minister General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira and former Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto, have also been sentenced and arrested, with some, like former spy chief Alexandre Ramagem, reportedly fleeing the country.