Brazil to Request Argentina to Extradite Alleged Rioters

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Facts

  • Brazil said it would request the extradition of alleged Jan. 8, 2023, rioters who fled to Argentina to seek political asylum after they were charged and released on bail.1
  • According to the Brazilian Federal Police, at least 65 defendants are currently in Argentina. None of the accused passed through migration control to gain entry to the country.2
  • This comes a day after the police said that 48 people linked to the riots had been arrested in a massive operation across the country, with efforts underway to locate and capture another 160 'convicts or suspects considered fugitives.'3
  • As of last month, 216 people have been sentenced over their alleged involvement in the anti-democratic acts, while 203 defendants accused of less severe crimes have struck deals with the prosecution.4
  • While over 1.4K people have been charged, former Pres. Jair Bolsonaro is facing a Supreme Court probe over his role in the riots that allegedly sought to oust Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from office.5
  • Meanwhile, a constitutional amendment proposal to grant amnesty to protesters — including those who carried out last January's riot — has been set in motion in Brazil's lower house of Congress.6

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Brazil Reports, 3Barrons, 4Agencia Brasil, 5Associated Press and 6The Brazilian Report.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Foreign Affairs. It's no coincidence that fugitive rioters who stormed government buildings in Brasília have sought haven in Javier Milei's Argentina, given that the transnational far-right was behind this failed coup attempt in Brazil. If the rule of law and friendly diplomatic relations are to prevail, Buenos Aires should grant these possible extradition requests.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Glenn Greenwald. The Jan. 8 storming of government buildings in Brasília was relatively peaceful despite some property damage to furniture and artwork — and protesters never intended to stage a military coup. Mainstream media has promoted a conspiracy that doesn't exist while ignoring that Brazilians are fully capable of protesting and distrusting institutions on their own.

Predictions