Bolsonaro is ordered by the Brazilian Supreme Court to start a 27-year prison sentence

The Supreme Court of Brazil rejected former President Jair Bolsonaro’s appeal and ordered him to start serving a 27-year sentence.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in jail on Tuesday by the Supreme Court of Brazil for allegedly planning a failed attempt to win reelection after the country’s most recent election.

The order was issued soon after Bolsonaro’s attorneys’ initial petition to have the conviction overturned or suspended was denied by the court. The court decided that the former leader must start his sentence right away after dismissing the appeal.

After the court’s decision, Bolsonaro will be moved to a federal police facility in Brasília to serve the first part of his term. The former president has consistently denied planning any attempt to sabotage Brazil’s democratic process, and this ruling is one of the most significant judicial blows to his reputation.

Tuesday’s ruling means Bolsonaro must start serving time while his legal team works on further appeals, which they have promised to pursue. In light of the chaos surrounding the most recent election, the decision also demonstrates the Supreme Court’s strong position on political accountability.

Bolsonaro is accused of overseeing or promoting attempts to reverse the poll results, which led to what prosecutors called a concerted effort to hold onto power. According to the court, the acts constituted a significant attack on Brazil’s democratic institutions.

For the time being, the former president must deal with the immediate reality of being imprisoned as mandated by the country’s highest court; other legal actions and appeals are anticipated in the upcoming months.