Joel Borges Corrêa was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison for participating in the act that resulted in the invasion and depredation of the headquarters of the Three Powers
The Argentine National Commission for Refugees (Conare) granted political asylum for Brazilian Joel Borges Corrêasentenced in Brazil to 13 years and six months in prison for participation on January 8, 2023. The publication of the decision, the first among Brazilians detained in the neighboring country, officially took place this Tuesday (10).
“Joel Borges Corrêa’s defense has made it public to clarify that the Comisión Nacional para los Refugiados (Conare), the official body of the government of the Argentine Republic responsible for analyzing requests for international protection, recognized the refugee status of our constituent,” said the Brazilian’s lawyer, Luciano Cunha, in a statement.
According to the Argentine news portal Infobaewho had access to the Conare resolution, a The Argentine government’s decision was based on a “well-founded fear of political persecution” which Corrêa says suffers due to political issues in Brazil. The same justification was presented by the Brazilian’s defense through a communication.
The granting of asylum was granted on Thursday (4), approximately three months after the Argentine Court determined the extradition of Corrêa and four other convicted Brazilians for the coup acts in Brasília. They are considered fugitives in Brazil.
The Brazilians’ extradition request came from the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The five were serving sentences under house arrest while waiting to be extradited.
In 2024, already on the run, Corrêa was arrested after passing through a traffic stop traffic in the city of El Volcán, in the Argentine province of San Luis. At the time, he was driving towards the Andes Mountains, in Chile.
Lawyer Luciano Cunha highlighted that Conare considered that Joel Borges Corrêa left Brazil amid a “well-founded fear of persecution” for political reasons and at risk of having fundamental guarantees violated. “Circumstances that justify the granting of international protection by the Argentine State”, said the defense in a statement.
“With the formal recognition of refugee status, international guarantees of humanitarian protection come into effect, in particular the principle of non-refoulement (non-return), which prevents the delivery or expulsion of the refugee to a country where they may suffer persecution or violation of fundamental rights”, added the statement from the Brazilian’s lawyers.
With asylum granted and refugee recognition, Corrêa will be free on Argentine soil, without having to comply with legal obligations. Regarding the electronic ankle bracelet that the Brazilian had to wear after being detained, the defense states that the “monitoring will be removed”. The process continues in progress in Brazil.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
