November 18, 2025
Nine military generals sentenced to up to 24 years for assassination plot to overturn democratic election
On Nov. 18, 2025, Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced nine high-ranking military officials to prison terms up to 24 years after convicting them of plotting a coup and attempting to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The trial of 'Group 3' defendants took place between Nov. 11-18, 2025, with sentences ranging from 1 year and 11 months to 24 years. Only General Estevan Theophilo was acquitted among the 10 defendants. Four defendants received sentences exceeding 20 years for their roles in the conspiracy to prevent Lula's Jan. 2023 inauguration.
The 'Green and Yellow Dagger' assassination plan was drafted by General Mario Fernandes inside Brazil's presidential Planalto Palace on Nov. 12, 2022, just days after Lula defeated Bolsonaro in the Oct. 2022 election. The plan detailed methods to assassinate Lula, Alckmin, and Justice Moraes using poison or explosive devices to prevent the democratic transfer of power. The conspiracy was elaborated at the home of Walter Braga Netto, Bolsonaro's vice-presidential running mate and former Army general, who hosted meetings where military officers and government officials coordinated the coup attempt.
On Dec. 15, 2022, coup plotters stalked Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes using code names and a WhatsApp group titled 'Copa 2022,' planning to assassinate him when he left a Supreme Court session. The conspirators aborted the assassination attempt at the last minute because the court session ended earlier than expected. Federal Police investigations found plotters conducted surveillance, established communication protocols, and prepared operational plans for political murders designed to create chaos justifying military intervention to 'restore order' and keep Bolsonaro in power.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted in Sep. 2025 and sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for leading the criminal organization that orchestrated the coup attempt. The Supreme Court's First Panel convicted all defendants between Sep. 2-11, 2025, finding Bolsonaro had 'full knowledge' of the assassination plots against Lula, Alckmin, and Moraes. Co-conspirators sentenced alongside Bolsonaro included General Walter Braga Netto (26 years), Admiral Almir Garnier Santos (24 years), former Justice Minister Anderson Gustavo Torres (24 years), General Augusto Heleno (21 years), and General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira (19 years).
On Jan. 8, 2023, one week after Lula's inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil's presidential palace, Congress building, and Supreme Court in Brasília in a violent insurrection lasting over three hours. Federal Police investigations concluded the Jan. 8 riots were not spontaneous protests but part of the coordinated coup plan developed in Nov.-Dec. 2022. The rioters aimed to create a crisis severe enough to justify military intervention, with coup plotters hoping the military would refuse to restore order and instead overthrow Lula's democratically elected government.
On Nov. 21, 2024, Brazilian Federal Police formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 co-conspirators of attempting to overthrow Brazil's democratic institutions through 'Operation Counterattack.' The 700-page police report documented how Bolsonaro began laying groundwork for the coup in 2021 by spreading disinformation about Brazil's electronic voting system, repeatedly claiming without evidence that the electoral process was vulnerable to fraud. This disinformation campaign primed Bolsonaro's supporters to reject his 2022 election loss and mobilized them for the Jan. 8, 2023 insurrection.
In Dec. 2024, Federal Police arrested Walter Braga Netto, Bolsonaro's 2022 running mate and former Chief of Staff, identifying him as a 'central figure in the acts aimed at subverting the democratic regime in Brazil.' Additional arrests targeted military officers and Bolsonaro administration officials who occupied key positions enabling the coup conspiracy. In Dec. 2025, the Supreme Court convicted five more conspirators from 'Nucleus 2' of the plot, including Filipe Martins, Marcelo Câmara, and Mário Fernandes, showing the breadth of the conspiracy across Brazil's executive branch and military command structure.
Bolsonaro's conviction and the sentencing of military officers breaks Brazil's historical pattern of impunity for coup plotters and military interventions. Brazil experienced a military dictatorship from 1964-1985, with previous coup attempts and authoritarian actions rarely resulting in criminal accountability for high-ranking officials. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, himself a target of the assassination plot, led the judicial proceedings holding coup conspirators accountable. The convictions signal Brazil's democratic institutions' determination to prevent military interference in civilian governance and establish that attempting to overthrow elected governments carries severe criminal consequences.
Why won't most convicted defendants start prison time immediately?
One defendant was acquitted while nine were convicted in the described trial group.
Fill the blank: Justice _______ served as rapporteur for the STF panel that tried Group 1 defendants.
Sort these actors into 'investigators' or 'deciders' in the coup prosecutions
Which reform would strengthen civilian control over the military after these trials?
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Start QuizFormer President of Brazil (2019-2022)
President of Brazil (inaugurated Jan. 2023)
Former Army General, Bolsonaro's 2022 Vice Presidential running mate, former Chief of Staff and Defense Minister
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice
Brazilian Army General
Vice President-elect of Brazil (2022)
civic action
Support international monitoring of Brazil's democratic institutions
Brazil's successful prosecution of coup plotters proves that democratic accountability is possible even when military officers and former heads of state attempt to overthrow elected governments. Support international organizations monitoring Brazil's continued adherence to rule of law and protection of judicial independence. These convictions create precedent for holding authoritarians accountable that can strengthen democracy globally.
I want to support the OAS's monitoring of democratic institutions in Brazil following the Nov. 2025 convictions of military officers who plotted to assassinate President Lula and overthrow Brazil's democracy. Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced nine coup conspirators to up to 24 years in prison, breaking Brazil's historical pattern of impunity for military interventions. This accountability strengthens democracy throughout Latin America. How can I support the OAS's efforts to monitor Brazil's continued adherence to democratic norms and judicial independence?
civic action
Study Brazil's coup attempt as a warning for U.S. democratic institutions
Brazil's coup attempt parallels threats to American democracy, including election disinformation, violent insurrection at the seat of government, and coordination between political leaders and security forces to overturn election results. Contact civics education organizations to demand curricula comparing the Jan. 8, 2023 Brasília riots with the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack, examining how democratic institutions can successfully prosecute coup attempts.
I want civics education curricula examining Brazil's successful prosecution of the Jan. 8, 2023 coup attempt as a model for democratic accountability. Brazil convicted former President Bolsonaro and military officers who plotted to assassinate President-elect Lula and overthrow the elected government. The parallels to threats against American democracy are striking—both countries faced violent insurrections at government buildings, disinformation campaigns undermining election legitimacy, and coordination between political leaders and security forces. What educational resources exist comparing these cases and teaching how democracies can hold coup plotters accountable?
civic action
Support Brazilian civil society organizations defending democracy
Brazilian civil society organizations documented the coup conspiracy, pressured authorities to investigate, and supported judicial accountability for coup plotters. International support for these organizations helps sustain democratic resilience against authoritarian threats. Donate to or amplify Brazilian organizations defending judicial independence, press freedom, and democratic institutions.
I want to support Brazilian civil society organizations that documented the 2022-2023 coup conspiracy and pressured authorities to hold coup plotters accountable. Brazil's Supreme Court convicted former President Bolsonaro and military officers who plotted to assassinate President Lula and overthrow democracy. This accountability resulted from sustained pressure by civil society defending judicial independence and democratic norms. How can international supporters help Brazilian organizations continue defending democracy against authoritarian threats?
civic action
Demand U.S. State Department support for Latin American democratic accountability
Brazil's successful prosecution of military coup plotters sets important precedent for democratic accountability throughout Latin America. Contact the U.S. State Department to support diplomatic and financial assistance for Latin American judicial systems prosecuting coup attempts and authoritarian violence. Strong democratic institutions in Brazil strengthen regional stability and provide models for other nations facing authoritarian threats.
I'm calling to urge the State Department to support Brazil's prosecution of military officers and former President Bolsonaro for plotting to assassinate President Lula and overthrow Brazil's democracy. In Nov. 2025, Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced nine coup conspirators to up to 24 years in prison, establishing crucial precedent for democratic accountability in Latin America. Will the department provide diplomatic support and technical assistance for Brazilian judicial independence? Strong democratic institutions in Brazil benefit regional stability and provide models for prosecuting authoritarian violence throughout Latin America.