September 25, 2020
Cristiano Zanin and Luigi Ferrajoli. Photo: reproduction / Workers' Party

Jurist Luigi Ferrajoli expressed today (25) his solidarity with former president Lula da Silva lawyer, Cristiano Zanin, targeted by Operation Car Wash in early September. The jurist has undersigned a statement expressing disapproval over the political persecution against Zanin, issued by the Free Lula Italian Committee.

“Italian professor Luigi Ferrajoli, who’s among the main theorists in international legal garantisme, has shown his solidarity towards former president Lula da Silva lawyer, Cristiano Zanin, who has targeted by Operation Car Wash. The jurist has signed a statement issued by the Free Lula Italian Committee, the Committee reported on social media.

Ferrajoli, one of the most acknowledged jurists throughout the world and known as the ‘father’ of legal garantisme has expressed his solidarity with Cristiano Zanin Martins after Operation Car Wash acted against the former president Lula da Silva defense team law firm.

On September 9, during Car Wash operation on Brazil’s System S (a joint system of social contributions paid by companies), judge Marcelo Bretas issued search and seizure warrants against law firms in Rio de Janeiro, Lula’s defense team law firm Teixeira Martins amongst them, to investigate possible embezzlement of System S – Sesc-RJ, Senac-RJ and Fecomércio-RJ between 2012 and 2018.

Ferrajoli was one of the jurists who undersigned a letter last year – along with other renowned jurists, such as former judge Baltazar Garzón, in which the undersigned said they were “shocked” over what has been happening in Brazil and defended former president Lula da Silva’s freedom.

Brasil 247