Government makes its defense against ex-president Lula's claims to UN

The Brazilian government made the country's defense to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights against the petition filed by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in July last year in which he argues that he has fallen victim to a human rights violation as a result of Operation Car Wash. However, the defense content, delivered on Saturday (Jan. 27) at UN headquarters, in Geneva, has not been officially released.

In the petition, sent in July 2016, Lula said he is being subjected to persecution by Judge Sergio Moro, in charge of Operation Car Wash, accusing him of abuse of power. The former president's defense also complained about “wrongdoings” by Moro, among which recording and disclosing private conversations between Lula and his lawyers, and with the then-president Dilma Rouseff, in addition to a bench warrant for testimony on March 4 last year.

At the time, the document was lodged at the committee headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland. After the Brazilian government delivered its allegations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights shall speak out in the next few months.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta