Augusto Heleno

Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira (born 29 October 1947) is a Brazilian politician and retired general of the Brazilian Army. He was military commander of the Amazon and Chief of the Department of Science and Technology of the Army. Heleno has declared positions against official politics, particularly about the attitude of the international community in regards to Haiti and the indigenous politics of the Brazilian government. During Jair Bolsonaro presidential campaign of 2018, Bolsonaro invited Heleno Pereira to be his running mate in the election, but his party refused. The general was then invited for Minister of Defence of Bolsonaro's government. However, the nominated minister stepped back and was chosen for the Institutional Security Cabinet. Augusto Heleno Pereira was investigated by the Federal Police of Brazil, along with other former members of the Bolsonaro government, as a suspect of participating in a coup d'état plot. On 21 November 2024, he was formally indicted, together with other military and civilian suspects. He was formally arrested and sent to jail to have his sentence carried on 25 November 2025 after being found guilty, together with others, of five crimes: attempted coup d'etat, armed criminal organization, violent attempt to abolish the democratic rule of law, aggravated damage to federal property, and deterioration of protected heritage. This was the first time in history that Brazil condemned generals for a coup d'état.