Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) today ordered the release, subject to coercive measures, of the former director-general of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) Silvinei Vasques, suspected of trying to interfere in the 2022 presidential elections.
Vasques has been in prison since August 9, 2023, by order of the same Supreme Court judge who ordered his release today, Alexandre de Moraes, accused of trying to interfere in the second round of the 2022 presidential elections to benefit former President Jair Bolsonaro, of whom he is a declared supporter.
Out of prison while awaiting progress in the investigations and the possibility of being charged and going to trial, the former director of the Brazilian Federal Highway Police will have to wear an electronic bracelet, is required to report to the court periodically, is prohibited from leaving the country, from using and carrying firearms, from using social media and from communicating with other suspects.
Vasques is suspected of having ordered roadblocks to try to hinder the movement of voters for the current President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the second round of the presidential elections.
On October 30, 2022, the day of the vote that defined the change in government, the Brazilian Federal Highway Police carried out operations that interfered with the movement of voters, especially in the northeast, where Lula da Silva had an advantage over former President Jair Bolsonaro in voting intention polls.
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) even asked the Federal Highway Police for explanations after receiving reports of operations on the roads that had made it difficult for voters to move around.
The judge and then president of the TSE Alexandre de Moraes summoned Vasques on election day to explain the reason for these operations, despite the electoral authority having already prohibited any police action that could hinder the transportation of voters.
In addition to explaining the roadblocks that were prohibited, the former head of the Brazilian highway police was criticized for having published an image on social media in which he asked people to vote for Bolsonaro.
Vasques published a photo of the Brazilian flag with the phrases "vote 22. Bolsonaro President".
