UN Human Rights Council Rejects Former Brazilian President's Request for Injunction

05/23/2018 - 11h28

The United Nations' Human Rights Council, in Geneva, rejected a request for injunction from former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The injunction was aimed at preventing Lula from being arrested until the issuance of a final and unappealable decision.

The UN has not considered the merits of the request, which means the case will still be decided by the Council.

Lula's defense issued a note stating the document released by the Human Rights Council has confirmed the UN's body "is formally investigating violations against fundamental rights of the former president" filed by his lawyers in a petition, in July 2016.

	Gilmar Rose/Photo Premium/Folhapress
	Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrives at the Federal Police Department in Curitiba (04/08/2018)

On the other hand, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has also received the document, says the Council has not started investigations.

"The committee only said that the elements related to admissibility of the case are intertwined with those of substance and that, due to such fact, the Brazilian government has six months to provide additional elements, if so desired. The Committee has not decided about the admissibility of the case yet," said the note issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Council's document was sent to Brazil's mission with the UN in Geneva. Folha tried to contact the Council's press office, but no one answered by 7 p.m.

The Brazilian government said it will respond to UN's document "within the deadline" of six months and that it will decide which bodies should participate in the drafting of the text.

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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