Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Thursday that if allegations against former President Jair Bolsonaro regarding a 2022 coup attempt are substantiated, he should face imprisonment.

Earlier this week, Brazil’s top prosecutor formally charged Bolsonaro with orchestrating a “criminal organization” that sought to overturn the country’s democracy after his election loss to Lula. Among the accusations is a claim that the group even conspired to poison the newly elected president.

“The accusations are extremely serious,” Lula emphasized in a radio interview. “If they are proven true, the only path forward is for him and all those involved to be imprisoned. Of course, they have the right to defend themselves, but if the evidence confirms their guilt, there is no alternative but conviction.”

The case marks a historic moment in Brazil, with Bolsonaro now facing legal consequences over what authorities describe as an unprecedented attack on democratic institutions. Investigations continue as prosecutors gather further evidence.