Public statement – Conviction of those responsible for the attempted coup against Brazilian democracy
Conectas Direitos Humanos recognizes the singular relevance and the historical nature of the decision by the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (STF, acronym in Portuguese) in the conviction of eight defendants, including former president Jair Messias Bolsonaro and high-ranking members of the military, for crimes against the Democratic Rule of Law. The decision, handed down today after observing due legal process and the right to adversarial proceedings, confirms the conviction of the defendants for the crimes of violent attempt to abolish the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d’etat, criminal organization, qualified damage against federal property, and deterioration of protected heritage.
This decision is a milestone in the protection of democratic institutions and the affirmation of the Constitution as a cornerstone of Brazilian social and political life, since the country has faced other episodes where the democratic order was severely under attack without any of the perpetrators being held accountable.
The consolidation of accountability proceedings for those who undermine democracy helps build a political culture based on legality and the preservation of fundamental freedoms, inhibiting new attacks against democratic institutions. We further emphasize the importance of having an independent Judiciary Branch of Power as a pillar of Democratic Rule of Law. As such, both internal and external interference attempts that oppose this democratic value are inadmissible.
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In this historic moment, Conectas restates its permanent commitment to democracy, human rights, and the Democratic Rule of Law.
Conectas Direitos Humanos
