Security camera footage obtained by The New York Times reveals Jair Bolsonaro spent two nights (February 12 to 14, 2023) at the Hungarian embassy, days after his passport was confiscated by Brazilian federal police. The event coincided with ongoing criminal investigations against him, including charges of attempted conspiracy.
By law, national authorities cannot detain you at the border of another country's embassy. The situation, noted by the New York Times, suggests that the former president may have used his close relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to avoid the consequences of his actions.
Bolsonaro commented
After the New York Times article was published, Bolsonaro confirmed the embassy visit but declined to comment further. His lawyer says the former president talked politics with diplomats there and called all other information “fake news.”
Bolsonaro is currently accused of several crimes, including falsifying medical records related to Covid-19 vaccinations and ordering the sale of official gift jewelry. Despite these allegations, Bolsonaro is still a major player on the Brazilian political scene, serving as the main challenger to incumbent President Inácio Lula da Silva.
consequences
Brazilian federal police on Monday opened an investigation into former President Jair Bolsonaro's two-day stay at the Hungarian embassy in Brasilia.
Brazil's foreign ministry said in a short statement that Bolsonaro had summoned the Hungarian ambassador, Miklos Halmay, to explain why he was his guest at the embassy.