Background on Key Individuals and Context
The United States has imposed sanctions on Viviane Barci de Moraes, the wife of Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, as well as on a legal firm associated with the family. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced these sanctions on Monday.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who leads investigations against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has been previously sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on July 30th for his investigations that resulted in Bolsonaro’s historic conviction. The conviction came after Bolsonaro attempted a coup in January 2023 following his loss in the election.
Viviane Barci de Moraes and Lex, Instituto de Estudos Jurídicos (Lex Legal Institute), based in São Paulo, are now subject to sanctions under the Magnitsky Act. This law was enacted in honor of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who exposed state corruption in his country before dying in prison.
Understanding the Sanctions and Their Implications
The sanctions, enacted under the Magnitsky Act, prevent Viviane Barci and Lex from engaging in any economic activities involving U.S. citizens or companies, as well as blocking their assets and suspending their visas.
The U.S. views the investigations against former President Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt.” Following Bolsonaro’s conviction announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at further measures against the left-leaning government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the individuals sanctioned by the U.S.? Viviane Barci de Moraes, wife of Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, and Lex, Instituto de Estudos Jurídicos (Lex Legal Institute).
- What is the Magnitsky Act? The Magnitsky Act is a U.S. law enacted to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses and corruption, particularly in Russia, but applicable globally.
- What are the implications of these sanctions? The sanctions prevent Viviane Barci and Lex from conducting any economic activities involving U.S. citizens or companies, block their assets, and suspend their visas.
- Why were these sanctions imposed? The U.S. views the investigations led by Judge Alexandre de Moraes against former President Bolsonaro as a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
