Brazil Intensifies Security Measures Around Bolsonaro Ahead of Coup Conspiracy Trial

In an affluent gated neighborhood of Brasília, Brazil’s capital, a typically quiet environment has transformed into a high-security zone as plainclothes officers vigilantly monitor the area to oversee former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro has been confined under house arrest in one of the upscale homes for several weeks, wearing an ankle monitor. He awaits the commencement of his trial scheduled for Tuesday, where he faces accusations of conspiring to orchestrate a coup following his 2022 presidential election defeat — charges he firmly denies.

Authorities have recently intensified security protocols around Bolsonaro amid fears that he might attempt to escape, according to a senior police official privy to confidential discussions.

Last week, undercover police officers were deployed near the entrance of the gated community to control access. On Saturday, the Supreme Court justice overseeing the case authorized law enforcement to establish a security perimeter around Bolsonaro’s residence, though officers were not permitted inside the home itself.

The justice explained that the additional measures aim to mitigate escape risks posed by the adjacent properties surrounding the residence, which create blind spots. The current ankle monitoring technology does not provide real-time location data, potentially allowing Bolsonaro to evade detection by moving through neighboring houses and exiting the compound.

While officials say there is no concrete intelligence indicating an immediate escape attempt, the heightened precautions respond to Bolsonaro’s previous indications that he has considered fleeing. Authorities are particularly wary due to recent lobbying efforts by one of his sons, who sought intervention from the White House regarding his father’s legal situation earlier this year.