Bolsonaro Begins Serving 27-Year Prison Sentence After Conviction for Coup Plot

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  Newsroom

• November 26, 2025

• Newsroom

Bolsonaro Begins Serving 27-Year Prison Sentence After Conviction for Coup Plot

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has begun serving his sentence of 27 years and 3 months in prison, following a final ruling by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) that upheld his conviction for orchestrating a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election. 

Court Ruling and Legal Background

On September 11, 2025, the STF pronounced Bolsonaro guilty on multiple charges — including leading an armed criminal organization, attempting a violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, plotting a coup, and related crimes — marking the first time in Brazil’s history a former head of state was convicted for such actions. 
Since the ruling, all appeals were exhausted, and on November 25 the STF declared the verdict final, clearing the path for execution of the sentence.

Detention and Serving the Sentence

The court ordered Bolsonaro to begin his sentence at the headquarters of the Federal Police of Brazil (PF) in Brasília, where he has been held since a recent preventive detention order. 
According to media reports, he is occupying a single-cell room in the facility, measuring approximately 12 square meters, furnished with a bed, small table, television, and bathroom — a setup officially described by authorities as “suitable for custody during the sentence execution phase.” 

Health and Legal Context

Bolsonaro’s defense has earlier cited serious health problems — including ongoing complications from injuries sustained in a 2018 stabbing — as a basis for seeking more lenient forms of detention (house arrest or humanitarian regime). 
However, the court concluded the risk of flight was concrete, especially after incidents involving violation of precautionary measures (such as tampering with an ankle monitor), rejecting further appeals from the defense. 

Significance

The start of Bolsonaro’s sentence represents a historical moment for Brazil — as it marks the first time a former president will serve a long-term prison term for crimes against the democratic order. International observers, including media and human-rights organizations, are closely monitoring the case as a barometer of Brazil’s commitment to rule of law, judicial independence and accountability for political crimes.

Looking Ahead

Under Brazilian prison law and given the severity of the crimes (involving violence or threat), progressions to more lenient regimes (semi-open or open) will depend on compliance with minimum sentence fractions (estimated at 25%) and evaluations on behavior and security risk. Legal analysts estimate that — if conditions are met — eligibility for a regime change could come after serving a portion of the sentence, subject to decision by judicial authorities. 

Given Bolsonaro’s age at the time of conviction, and the complexity of the crime, this case remains among the most consequential in Brazil’s recent political history.