Former far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro spent two nights last month at the Hungarian embassy in the Brazilian capital, just days after federal police confiscated his passport and arrested two of his former aides on suspicion of plotting a coup, his lawyer quoted by Reuters and BTA.
Bolsonaro's stay in the Hungarian embassy from February 12 to 14 was first reported by the "New York Times", referring to recordings from security cameras in the diplomatic mission, according to Reuters.
This episode raises questions about the plans of the former president, who is the subject of multiple criminal investigations in Brazil after several of his close aides are already in prison.
Brazilian police could not arrest a politician who is in a foreign embassy, notes Reuters.
Bolsonaro's lawyer, Fabio Weingarten, said on social media that the former president spent two days at the Hungarian embassy "to establish contacts with representatives of a friendly country" and "to exchange information about the political situation in the two countries".
"Any other interpretations, beyond what I have told you, are the product of someone's weaponry, have nothing to do with reality and are effectively yet another fake news," Weingarten wrote.
Later today, Brazil's foreign ministry summoned the Hungarian ambassador for explanations about the reasons for Bolsonaro's stay at the Hungarian embassy, according to Reuters.