Operation Lesa Pátria (Portuguese idiomatic expression associated to "crimes against the State") is a set of ongoing investigations led by the Federal Police of Brazil investigating financiers, participants, and organizers of coup d'état attempts in Brazil, particularly related to the attacks on the headquarters of the Three Powers on January 8, 2023, in Brasilia. The task force is considered permanent by the Federal Police, with "periodic updates on the number of warrants issued, people captured and fugitives". Operation Lesa Pátria is the largest police operation launched in Brazil since Operation Lava Jato (2014-2021).

Background

2022–2023 Brazilian election protests

Attacks on the headquarters of the Three Powers on January 8

Investigations

On January 9, 2023, the day after the attacks, the Federal Police arrested in flagrante delicto 2,151 people who would have participated in the actions and were camped in front of barracks in Brasília. Of these, 745 (a little more than a third of those caught in the act) were released after identification, among them people over 70, people between 60 and 70 years old with comorbidities, and 50 women who were with children under 12 years old at the acts.

Initially, the investigations were facilitated by the suspects posting evidence of their crimes on social networks. In addition, volunteers created profiles and accounts to assist authorities with the identification of participants in the January 8 acts. Brazil's Federal Police also released an electronic address (e-mail) as a channel for denunciations.

The arrests are being carried out mainly in establishments of the Federal District Penitentiary System: the 19th Military Police Battalion (BPM), known as "Papudinha"; the Papuda Penitentiary Complex, composed of four male prisons; and the Federal District Women's Penitentiary, known as "Colmeia". According to the Federal Police of Brazil, those investigated should answer for several types of criminal charges, among them: violent abolition of the democratic rule of law; coup d'état; aggravated damage; criminal association; incitement to crime; destruction; deterioration or destruction of specially protected property.

As of March 13, 2023, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) has indicted 919 people for public incitement to crime and criminal association. Of these, 219 will also answer for more serious crimes (aggravated damage, violent abolition of the rule of law, and coup d'état). A total of 310 men and 82 women remain in prison, for a total of 392 people.

Notable targets

Ibaneis Rocha and Anderson Torres

In the 1st phase of Lesa Pátria (January 20, 2023), the Federal Police of Brazil conducted an operation against Ibaneis Rocha (MDB-DF), former governor of the Federal District (DF), removed since January 9 by determination of Alexandre de Moraes, minister of the Supreme Court (STF). Search and seizure warrants were served in the office and home of Rocha, and his cabinet in the Buriti Palace (headquarters of the Government of the DF). The action, requested by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) and authorized by the STF, was aimed at investigating alleged "omissive commissive" acts of authorities on January 8.

A week earlier, Anderson Torres, former Secretary of Public Safety in Ibaneis Rocha's administration, had been arrested in Brasilia shortly after returning from Florida, where he had met with former president Jair Bolsonaro, for whom he had been Minister of Justice. The request for his arrest had been granted by Minister Alexandre de Moraes at the request of the Director General of the Federal Police. During the search and seizure warrants at Torres' house, the Federal Police found a coup draft that foresaw the establishment of a state of defense at the headquarters of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in order to annul the 2022 presidential elections. This document, interpreted as evidence of an attempted coup d'état, has been added to lawsuits investigating coup acts in Brazil.

Representatives and political leaders

  • José Ruy Garcia, councilman from Inhumas (GO);
  • Antonio Clesio Ferreira, defeated candidate for mayor of Ouro Preto (MG);

Police and military officials

  • Colonel Jorge Eduardo Naime Barreto, former head of the Operational Department of the Military Police of the Federal District (PMDF);
  • Captain Josiel Pereira César, deputy commanding general of the PMDF;
  • Major Flávio Silvestre de Alencar, investigated for facilitating extremists' access to the Supreme Court building;
  • Lieutenant Rafael Pereira Martins;
  • Major Cláudio Mendes dos Santos, accused of managing the money used to finance the attacks and teaching military tactics to the people camped in front of the Brazilian Army Headquarters in Brasília;
  • Major Flávio Silveira, responsible for the command of the military police battalion that used to secure the Esplanade;

Bolsonarist influencers

  • Ramiro Alves da Rocha Cruz Júnior, known as "Ramiro dos Caminhoneiros";
  • Luciano Oliveira dos Santos, known as "Popó Bolsonaro";
  • Leonardo Rodrigues de Jesus ("Léo Índio"), nephew of former president Jair Bolsonaro;

People who became famous after their crimes

Phases (2023-ongoing)

As of May 23, 2023, Operation Lesa Pátria had reached 12 phases, 178 search and seizure warrants, and 88 arrests (preventive and temporary).

Phases Dates Federative units of Brazil Warrants
Search and seizure Arrests
1st phase [1] January 20 ES, MG, PR, RJ, SC and DF 16 8
2nd phase [2] January 23 MG 0 1
3rd phase [3] January 27 ES, MG, PR, RJ, SC and DF 27 11
4th phase [4] February 3 ES, GO, MT, RO SP and DF 14 3
5th phase [5] February 7 DF 6 4
6th phase [6] February 14 GO, MG, PR, SE and SP 13 8
7th phase [7] March 7 MG and PR 8 3
8th phase [8] March 17 BA, ES, GO, MA, MG, PR, RO, RS, SP and DF 46 32
9th phase [9] March 23 DF 0 1
10th phase [10] April 18 GO, MG, MT, PA, PR, RJ, SP and DF 22 16
11th phase [11] May 11 SP, MT and PR 22 0
12th phase May 23 DF 4 1
Total 178 88

See also

  1. ↑ "Polícia Federal deflagra Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques no dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  2. ↑ "PF prende homem filmado ao destruir relógio histórico durante os atos do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  3. ↑ "Polícia Federal deflagra a 3ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques no dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  4. ↑ "PF deflagra 4ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  5. ↑ "PF deflagra 5ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  6. ↑ "PF deflagra 6ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  7. ↑ "PF deflagra 7ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  8. ↑ "PF deflagra 8ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  9. ↑ "PF cumpre mandado de prisão na 9ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  10. ↑ "PF deflagra 10ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificar participantes dos ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  11. ↑ "PF deflagra 11ª fase da Operação Lesa Pátria para identificação de participantes que financiaram os ataques do dia 8/1". Polícia Federal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-05-11.
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