**Court Imposes Ankle Monitor and Curfew on Bolsonaro Amid Coup Accusations**

The ruling reflects heightened tensions as Bolsonaro denies allegations and claims of political persecution arise, intertwined with international diplomatic conflicts.

A Brazilian court has mandated that former president Jair Bolsonaro wear an ankle monitor and observe a nighttime curfew, amid fears he may attempt to evade legal proceedings. Bolsonaro, who held office from 2019 until 2022, faces accusations of orchestrating a coup to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from assuming the presidency in 2023, a claim he vehemently denies.

The order comes at a time of escalating tensions, as US President Donald Trump has publicly defended Bolsonaro, calling the allegations a "witch hunt" and threatening punitive tariffs on Brazilian goods in retaliation for how Bolsonaro is being treated. In a striking response, the US revoked visas for Brazilian judicial officials involved in the case, reflecting a complicated relationship between the two nations.

Bolsonaro described the court's restrictions as "supreme humiliation," asserting he has never considered fleeing his country. Recently, police executed a search warrant at his residence and political headquarters, in line with orders from the Supreme Court.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes ruled that Bolsonaro must also refrain from using social media and communicating with certain individuals, including his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has been actively lobbying for support in the US. The ruling imposes a strict 24-hour monitoring regime, adding to the numerous bureaucratic hurdles Bolsonaro now faces.

Judge Moraes highlighted that Bolsonaro, along with his son, is accused of illegally working to impose sanctions on public officials in Brazil. In response to the ruling, Bolsonaro's legal team expressed shock and frustration, emphasizing their client's historical compliance with judicial decisions.

Federal officials allege that Bolsonaro's actions may constitute obstruction of justice, coercion, and an attack on national sovereignty while a review is ongoing in relation to the violence that erupted shortly after Lula's inauguration. A group of eight individuals, including Bolsonaro, is being tried for multiple charges that could result in significant prison time.

The political fallout continues to reverberate, as Secretary of State for the US, Marco Rubio, announced immediate visa revocations for Judge Moraes and his family in response to the recent developments. Trump has also warned of a 50% tariff on Brazil if the alleged political persecution against Bolsonaro continues, to which President Lula has vowed to reciprocate, reaffirming Brazil's independence and legal principles.

Amid all the turmoil, Bolsonaro maintains that he is being wrongfully targeted and positioned as a political scapegoat, particularly as he contemplates a potential return to politics in 2026. Bolsonaro narrowly lost to Lula in the 2022 elections and has never publicly acknowledged this defeat, with a significant portion of his supporter base believing that the military should have intervened against Lula's inauguration.

Investigators claim to have uncovered a "criminal organization" linked to the events that transpired following the elections, categorizing the 8 January 2023 riots as an attempted coup intertwined with Bolsonaro’s alleged approval and insight into these movements.