Flávio’s video sparked the initiative; Federal Police request was made before former president tried to break electronic ankle bracelet
It took 13 hours from the release of a video of the senator (PL-RJ) on social media until the arrival of the PF (Federal Police) at the former president’s door at the Solar de Brasília condominium, in Jardim Botânico.
Under house arrest since August 4, Bolsonaro ended up being taken on Saturday morning (Nov 22, 2025) to the PF Superintendency, in the central region, where he is now preventively detained in a room measuring approximately 12 m².
The decision was taken by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), in the early hours of the morning, after the PF highlighted the risk of escape and threat to “public order”.
Bolsonaro was sentenced on September 11 to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempted coup d’état. The resources are in the final stage. The beginning of the sentence should be ordered soon.
But the sequence of events from Friday (Nov 21) to Saturday (Nov 22) precipitated the ex-president’s detention, still on a precautionary basis. Read the chronology of facts:
- Friday (Nov 21) at 5pm: Flávio, son 01 of the former president, calling on supporters to gather in front of the Solar de Brasília condominium. The senator asks for prayers for his father’s health. “Are you going to fight for your country or watch everything on your cell phone on the couch at home? I invite you to fight with us”it says in the video.
- Friday (Nov 21) around 11pm: the PF calls for Bolsonaro’s preventive arrest because of the vigil of supporters. In their request, the police state: “The disturbance in the vicinity of the convict’s residence could create an environment conducive to his escape, frustrating the application of criminal law”.
- Saturday (Nov 22) at 0:08 am: The SAP-DF Integrated Electronic Monitoring Center (DF Penitentiary Administration Secretariat) communicates to Alexandre de Moraes the violation of Bolsonaro’s electronic ankle bracelet. The system detected that the former president had damaged the equipment using a heat instrument.
- Saturday (Nov 22) at 1:10 am: agents from the Penitentiary Administration Secretariat go to Bolsonaro’s house, film the ankle bracelet damaged by a . “I put a hot iron in there”Bolsonaro tells the agents. The former president claims he had started burning his ankle bracelet “late afternoon”. The equipment is replaced.
- Saturday (Nov 22) at 1:25 am: Alexandre de Moraes consults the PGR (Attorney General’s Office) regarding the request for preventive detention made by the PF. The attorney general, Paulo Gonet, issues an opinion in favor of converting house arrest into preventative, citing the “urgency and severity” of the case.
- Saturday (Nov 22) around 2am: Moraes orders preventive detention, basing his decision on the existence of signs of an escape attempt and the risk of disturbance that could be caused by the vigil. The minister assesses that these factors made maintaining house arrest unfeasible.
- Saturday (Nov 22) around 6am: federal agents arrive at the condominium to arrest Bolsonaro. The former president is taken to the PF Superintendence, in the center of Brasília, for initial procedures, such as a criminal examination.
Preventive detention does not mark the beginning of the sentence of 27 years and 3 months imposed on Bolsonaro in the process over the attempted coup d’état. The execution of the conviction only begins after the criminal action has become final, when there is no longer any possibility of appeal.
