The Brazilian prosecutor general charged former president Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday with trying to stage a coup in order to remain in power after his election loss in 2022. This plot included a plan that would poison his successor, current President Luiz inacio Lula da S Silva, and murder a Supreme Court Judge.

The Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet claims that Bolsonaro, along with 33 other people, participated in a plot to stay in power. He wrote that the alleged plot included a plan for Lula to be poisoned and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes shot dead, an enemy of the former President.

Gonet wrote that the members of the criminal group had crafted a plan to attack the institutions at the presidential palace, with the aim of overthrowing the system of powers and democratic order. The plan was given the sinister nickname of “Green and Yellow Dagger” in the 272-page indictment. The plan was developed and brought to the attention of the President, who agreed to it.

Bolsonaro wears the yellow and green national soccer jersey of Brazil, which has become synonymous with his political movement.

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Bolsonaro’s defense team responded to the allegations with “dismay” and “indignation,” and added in a press release that the former “President” had never “agreed to any movement that aimed at destroying the democratic rule-of-law or the institutions which underpin it.”

Flavio Bolsonaro is a Bolsonaro senator and he said that the indictment “was empty” and there were no proofs of wrongdoing. He accused the Prosecutor General’s Office of serving ‘the nefarious Lula interests.

In November, the Brazilian Federal Police submitted a report to Gonet that detailed the plan. The report alleges a systematic attempt to sow mistrust in the electoral system. It also claims that the Federal Police of Brazil drafted a decree as legal cover for the scheme, pressured top military brass into going along with the plot and incited a riot.

In the indictment Gonet described the crimes as being part of an overall plan to stop Bolsonaro leaving office “contrary the will of the people at the polls.”

The Supreme Court will review the charges, and if they are accepted, Bolsonaro would be brought to trial.

The leader of the far-right denies any wrongdoing. Bolsonaro said to journalists on Tuesday, during a trip to the Senate in Brasilia: “I am not concerned about these accusations. Zero.”

Have you seen the coup order? You haven’t. “Neither have I,” added he.

According to a press release from the office of the Prosecutor-General, in addition to participating in a coup, the 34 defendants were accused of being part of an armed criminal group, of violently attempting the abolitionist rule of law and of causing serious damage and threat against state assets.

Gonet claimed that the criminal group he accused “had as its leaders (the then) president himself and Gen. BragaNetto, his running mate.”

In his report, Gonet stated that both men “accepted, encouraged, and committed acts which are described by our criminal law as attacks on the existence and Independence of (the branches of) power and of democratic rule.”

Penalties for the crimes vary. According to the criminal code, Bolsonaro could face up to 20-years in prison if he is found guilty of violently abolitionist of democracy and coup attempt.

According to the office of the prosecutor general, the indictments are based on digital files, spreadsheets and message exchanges. They expose a plan to disrupt democracy.

The charges are “historic,” Luis Henrique Machado said, a criminal lawyer and professor at IDP University in Brasilia. He added that he expected the Supreme Court will accept the charges and bring Bolsonaro to trial before the end next year.

Machado stated that “the charges prove Brazil’s institutional are robust, independent, and agile.” They are a model for other nations where democracy is in danger.

Bolsonaro will not be able to run in the 2026 elections after the judges of the top electoral court ruled he had abused his powers and cast doubts unfounded on the electronic voting system.

Carlos Melo is a professor of political science at Insper University, Sao Paulo. He said that Bolsonaro would “position himself” as a victim after Tuesday’s charges. Bolsonaro previously claimed that his legal troubles were an attempt to prevent him from returning to the office.

Melo said that Melo had seen a poll published today that showed he could be a contender in 2026 against Lula. There will be some political dust but it will settle.