São Paulo, Brazil – An Argentine court on Friday issued arrest warrants for 61 Brazilian nationals who fled to Argentina after being convicted in Brazil for their roles in the violent anti-democratic attacks of January 8, 2023, in Brasília.
The decision, given by Judge Daniel Rafecas of Federal Court No. 3 of Argentina, has already led to the detention of at least two individuals: Joelton Gusmão de Oliveira, 47, sentenced by the Supreme Court of Brazil to 16 years in prison for attempted coup. damage to public property, criminal association, among other charges; and Rodrigo Moro Ramalho, 34, who was sentenced to 14 years for similar offences.
The two men were caught by Argentine police in La Plata, a city about 60 kilometers from Buenos Aires.
In October, Brazil’s Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, requested the extradition of 63 Brazilians residing in Argentina. However, since no identifying list was disclosed, it remains unclear whether these individuals are among those targeted by Judge Rafecas’ arrest warrant.
According to estimates by Brazil’s Federal Police, around 180 people involved in the January 8 attacks may have fled to neighboring countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Despite ideological affinities with supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro – whose supporters unleashed a wave of destruction in Brasília following the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – Argentina’s government, led by Javier Milei, has said it will respect the orders of the court that mandates extraditions.
(photo: Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil)
