President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Sunday (2) that the Russian government had granted pardon to Brazilian Robson Oliveira, imprisoned since 2019 for possession of a substance banned by the authorities of the European country.
In a quick statement at the entrance to the Palácio da Alvorada, the president said that the ex-pilot of footballer Fernando is already at the Brazilian embassy in Russia and is expected to return to Brazil on Wednesday (5).
“After months of negotiations with the Russian government, with whom we have an excellent relationship, Robson, a former pilot for player Fernando, who has been detained for two years, is already at the Brazilian embassy,” he said. .
The president recalled that the Brazilian entered Russia with a drug containing methadone hydrochloride – banned in the country. The Russian government vetoed the use of the substance, which was used in drug treatment in the late 1990s.
“The Russian government, using local law, complied with the law. Robson was tried and the sentence would be high for this type of failure. He ended up being sentenced to three years in prison,” he said. -he says.
According to Bolsonaro, the pardon was granted by the Russian government due to the celebration of Easter by the Orthodox Church, the religion with the highest number of followers in Russia.
The news of Robson’s pardon was informed to the President by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos França, who was in the morning of this Sunday (2) at the Palácio do Alvorada.
Last year, Bolsonaro even said he would seek Russian President Vladimir Putin to demand the Brazilian’s release, as the substance is not banned in Brazil.
The drugs in the possession of the former driver were ordered by the family of Fernando, then a Spartak Moscow player and for whom Robson worked. Currently, the midfielder is a player of the Chinese team Beijing Guoan.
Last year, Robson’s case gained prominence on social media, with the hashtag #JusticaporRobson even shared by gamers.
Fernando, for his part, posted messages on social media saying he would help Robson prove his innocence, including paying his lawyer.