Bolsonaro appeals to the STF asking for the return of the passport seized in Operation

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Seizure was ordered by minister Alexandre de Moraes

Former president Jair Bolsonaro, through his defense, asked the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to return his passport, which was seized as part of Operation Tempus Veritatis, which investigates the existence of a criminal organization that allegedly planned a coup. State in the country.

Lawyers argue that the seizure does not meet legal requirements, as, according to the defense, a real risk of escape has not been demonstrated, for example. They ask that passport retention be replaced by the obligation to ask for permission to leave the country for more than seven days.

In the request, the defense maintains that Bolsonaro “since the beginning of the process has cooperated unrestrictedly with the authorities, appearing punctually at all calls and actively collaborating to clarify the facts”.

The seizure of the passport was ordered by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Supreme Court, at the request of the Federal Police and with the approval of the Attorney General’s Office. This was the only precautionary measure targeting Bolsonaro. The others under investigation, including high-ranking military personnel, also had their passports seized and were prohibited from communicating with each other.

The former president’s defense also maintains that withholding the passport violates the right to travel and would have acquired the character of anticipating a sentence. For lawyers, Bolsonaro “is being treated as guilty, not only by this Court but also by the media”.

In the petition, the lawyers add that throughout 2023 Bolsonaro only needed to be absent from the country once, to attend the inauguration of Argentine president Javier Milei, and that he informed the Supreme Court about the trip in advance.

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