Video: Unrest in Brazil. Situation at the Moment
In Brazil, clashes between armed forces and supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro have continued throughout the night. As a result, over 400 individuals have been detained on suspicion of participating in the unrest. In several regions of Brazil, truck drivers are blocking the operations of gas stations and roads. Corresponding footage has been published on the internet.
According to RTVI, on January 8, supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro held a protest in the country’s capital, Brasília, against the current leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, demanding a review of the results of the 2022 presidential election. During the protests, individuals stormed the Congress and Supreme Court buildings, as well as the Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of the President of Brazil.
In response, President Lula da Silva declared a state of emergency in the capital and ordered federal military and law enforcement forces to suppress the unrest. During the demonstrations, over 300 people were detained, CNN Brazil reports, citing local law enforcement. The governor of the federal district, Ibanez Rocha, announced on Twitter that there were 400 arrests.
The governor of the federal district (which includes the capital city of Brasília) has been removed from office for 90 days, according to Globo. Former president Jair Bolsonaro condemned the actions of his supporters and is currently in Florida. Protests have also been condemned by U.S. President Joe Biden and EU diplomat Josep Borrell.