Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court initiates trial against 11 military officers and a federal police officer accused of orchestrating tactical actions in the 2022 coup attempt, highlighting the fight to defend democracy from reactionary forces.

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On May 20, 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) commenced the trial of “Nucleus 3,” a group of 11 military officers and one federal police officer accused of conspiring to execute tactical actions in the failed 2022 coup attempt against Brazil’s democratic government. This legal proceeding forms part of a broader judicial effort to hold accountable those who sought to violently undermine the democratic rule of law during the Bolsonaro administration.

Military Plotters Face Charges of Armed Criminal Organization and Coup Attempt

The Attorney General’s Office (PGR) has charged the accused with serious crimes including membership in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of democracy, coup d’état, and acts of violence causing damage to public property.

The defendants include high-ranking military figures such as Colonels Bernardo Romão Correa Netto and Fabrício Moreira de Bastos, Generals Esteban Teófilo and Nilton Diniz Rodrigues, as well as Federal Police officer Wladimir Matos Soares. The STF’s First Chamber, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, will decide their culpability, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in defending Brazil’s constitutional order.

This trial follows earlier proceedings against “Nucleus 1,” which includes former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven others, who were unanimously charged with orchestrating the coup plot.

The STF has also initiated investigations into other nuclei linked to the coup attempt, including a group led by businessman Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of a former military dictatorship president, whose case remains pending. These judicial actions underscore the ongoing struggle against reactionary and fascist forces that threaten Brazil’s democracy and social progress.

⏩ @STF_oficial aceita a denúncia contra os dez integrantes do Núcleo 3 por tentativa de golpe de Estado: https://t.co/bDzgflQCMP#PraTodosVerem: contém descrição da imagem pic.twitter.com/OpuPELAvIb

— STF (@STF_oficial) May 20, 2025

The text reads:@STF_oficial accepts the complaint against the ten members of Nucleus 3 for attempted coup d’état: https://bit.ly/denuncia-nucleo3
#ForEveryoneToSee: contains image description

Defending Democracy Against Imperialist and Reactionary Threats

Left-wing political sources highlight that the coup attempt was fueled by far-right sectors aligned with imperialist interests seeking to destabilize Brazil’s sovereign democratic project under President Lula’s leadership.

The Supreme Court’s firm stance against these conspirators represents a vital defense of popular sovereignty and the rule of law. It sends a clear message that attempts to subvert democracy through violence and intimidation will face the full force of justice, safeguarding the gains of the Brazilian people and the broader Latin American left.

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