Since Brazil’s judiciary began a crackdown on individuals accused of participating in the January 8, 2023 attacks on the country’s government headquarters, following the defeat of former President Jair Bolsonaro by Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, an estimated 180 fugitives remain at large.
The Brazilian Federal Police has previously suggested that these people may have fled to neighboring Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Argentina’s migration office reported in October that 181 Brazilians requested asylum between December 2023 and September 2024. All of these cases remain pending, though all applicants are able to remain in Argentina under refugee status while their requests are being reviewed.
A recent public information request sent by Latin America Reports to the Uruguayan Refugee Council revealed that 23 Brazilian nationals have requested asylum in Uruguay since 2023. It isn’t clear how many — if any — are wanted by Brazil in connection with the government attacks.
Just like in Argentina, the Uruguayan Refugee Council has confirmed that none of the 23 asylum applications made by Brazilian nationals since 2023 have been either approved or rejected. Currently, a total 49 asylum requests by Brazilian nationals remain pending, including those made before 2023.
In January 2024, the Uruguayan Consulate in Brazil said there was a group of 84 Brazilians seeking refuge in Uruguay.
According to article 14 of Law No. 18076, every Uruguayan public authority “shall refrain from deciding to expel an asylum seeker or refugee from the national territory until a final decision has been issued against the refugee’s case. If necessary, the Refugee Commission shall request assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to resettle the refugee in a third country.”
It continues, “The decision ordering the expulsion of a refugee or asylum seeker may only be adopted for well-founded reasons of security or public order and must be in accordance with the legal procedures in force.”
Previously, three women who were convicted for their role in the January 8 attacks sought refuge in the Uruguayan consulate in the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, which borders Uruguay. They were identified as Alethea Verusca Soares and Rosana Maciel Gomes, who faced 16 and a half years and 14 years imprisonment respectively, and Jupira Silvana da Cruz Rodrigues, who also received a 14-year sentence after her trial was initially suspended.
After reportedly crossing the border into Uruguay, the three fugitives are now living in Argentina, where they have been interviewed by El País.
Last week, the Brazilian Federal Court published a partial summary of the verdicts of those involved in the January 8 attacks.
Thus far, 265 people have been found guilty of armed criminal association, criminal damage, damage to protected heritage, violent abolition of the Democratic State of Law, and attempted coup d’état.
They have received sentences of between 15 and 17 years imprisonment. Additionally, 476 non-prosecution agreements were signed, allowing those who were indirectly involved in the uprisings and who were accused of less serious, non-violent crimes to confess and avoid prison time. Four people have also been acquitted.
