Brazil's federal police have charged former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other former officials and aides with an alleged coup plot to keep him in power after his 2022 electoral defeat.

Axar.az reports that the police submitted the formal accusation in a sealed report to the Supreme Court, which is expected to forward it to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will then determine whether Bolsonaro should face formal charges and stand trial.

The federal police announced that the report requests indictments for 37 individuals, accusing them of attempting to violently overthrow the democratic state, plotting a coup, and being part of a criminal organization.

This report is the result of nearly two years of investigation into Bolsonaro's actions in denying the election results, which led to the January 2023 riots in Brasilia, just days after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assumed office.

According to Reuters, investigators have gathered evidence suggesting that Bolsonaro was aware of the alleged conspiracy, based on police sources.

This indictment is one of several, but it is significant in Brazil's efforts to hold Bolsonaro accountable. It comes at a time when his 2026 presidential ambitions face another serious setback.