BRASILIA — A Brazilian woman has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after her involvement in the January 2023 unrest in Brasilia, where she defaced a statue with a provocative message written in lipstick during riots that sought to challenge the election loss of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Débora Rodrigues, 39, was convicted on multiple charges, including the destruction of public property, membership in a criminal organization, and involvement in an attempted coup against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government.

During the riots, Rodrigues wrote “You lost, idiot” in lipstick on the statue of Justice outside Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, an incident widely dubbed the "lipstick coup."

Despite her apology and insistence that she did not engage in violence, the court found her actions part of a broader anti-democratic movement.

Justice Cristiano Zanin emphasized that Rodrigues was not tried solely for the graffiti but for her overall participation in the coup attempt.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes argued that Rodrigues "consciously and voluntarily" aligned herself with protestors aiming to overthrow the government, and noted attempts to conceal evidence from her mobile phone.

Rodrigues’ defense maintained that she did not enter any government buildings and that her actions were impulsive. She expressed regret, claiming she was a "good citizen" caught in the "heat of the moment."

The case has become a rallying point for Bolsonaro’s supporters, who view Rodrigues as a political victim and criticize what they describe as an increasingly partisan Supreme Court.

In February, a video about her went viral on social media, and Bolsonaro himself called for amnesty for participants in the 2023 unrest.

Bolsonaro faces separate criminal proceedings related to the alleged coup attempt and could face a prison sentence of over 40 years if convicted. — BBC