Magnitsky Law: Eduardo Bolsonaro’s reaction to the lifting of sanctions against Moraes and his wife

The photo shows Eduardo Bolsonaro holding his hand over his mouth with an expression that denotes a certain apprehension — Photo caption, Eduardo Bolsonaro currently lives in the United States. He says he left Brazil to escape alleged political persecution led by Alexandre de Moraes.

- author, Leandro Prazeres
- To roll, From BBC News Brasil to Brasilia
33 minutes ago

The lifting of sanctions imposed by the Global Magnitsky Act was announced this Friday (12/12).

“We received with regret the news of the latest decision announced by the American government,” said the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

The two men have campaigned with the Trump administration to implement sanctions against Moraes and his family since the beginning of this year and celebrated in interviews and on social media the announcement of the measures by the US government in July this year. They accuse the minister of politically persecuting Jair Bolsonaro and other right-wing politicians and activists.

Their actions led to the two attorneys general (PGR) filing a complaint with the STF for the crime of coercion over accusations they made to prevent the trial of Jair Bolsonaro for attempted coup d’état.

The first panel of the Supreme Court accepted the complaint against Eduardo last month. He is now accused in a case pending before the STF for using serious threats or violence during criminal proceedings.

The deputy and Figueiredo deny that the objective was to prevent the conviction of Jair Bolsonaro and that they denounced Moraes’ abuses.

This was reflected in how, at the time, the US government justified sanctions against the STF minister, accusing him of being “responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized judicial processes – including against former President Jair Bolsonaro”.

Eduardo Bolsonaro has lived in the United States since the beginning of this year and says he moved to the country to escape what he describes as political persecution.

In his statement on the social network X regarding the lifting of sanctions against Moraes and his wife, the MP criticizes Brazilian society.

“We regret that Brazilian society, despite the window of opportunity it had, failed to build the political unity necessary to face its own structural problems. The lack of internal cohesion and insufficient support for initiatives carried out abroad have contributed to the worsening of the current situation,” he said.

“We sincerely hope that President Donald Trump’s decision will help defend the strategic interests of the American people, as is his duty. As for us, we will continue to work with firmness and determination to find a path that allows the liberation of our country, for as long as necessary and despite adverse circumstances.”

Published on the US Treasury website, the decision to lift sanctions represents yet another de-escalation of tensions between the United States and Brazil, following the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

Approved under the Barack Obama administration in 2012, the Magnitsky Act is one of the toughest laws the US government has to punish foreigners it considers to be perpetrators of serious human rights violations and corrupt practices.

The lifting of sanctions against Moraes was defended by the Brazilian government in conversations with interlocutors of the North American administration. Shortly after the restrictions were applied to the minister, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) described this measure as unacceptable interference by the North American government in Brazil’s internal affairs.