Italy's Court of Cassation — the country's highest judicial instance — denied former Brazilian congresswoman Carla Zambelli's extradition to Brazil on Friday (22) and ordered her immediate release. The decision overturned a previous ruling by Rome's Court of Appeal that had authorized sending the former lawmaker to Brazil to serve a 10-year prison sentence for invading the systems of Brazil's National Council of Justice (CNJ). ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A Corte Suprema de Cassação, última instância da Justiça italiana, negou autorização para que a ex-deputada Carla Zambelli (PL-SP) seja extraditada para o Brasil. Os juízes da última instância anularam a decisão da Corte de Apelação"
Zambelli had been imprisoned in Rome since July 2025, when she was detained after leaving Brazil to avoid compliance with an arrest warrant issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The former congresswoman was convicted by Brazil's Supreme Court in May 2025 for being the intellectual author of the hack into the CNJ system, which resulted in the insertion of a false arrest warrant against Moraes. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Em julho do ano passado, a ex-deputada foi presa em Roma, capital da Itália, onde tentava escapar do cumprimento de um mandado de prisão emitido pelo ministro Alexandre de Moraes, do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF)"
According to lawyer Pieremilio Sammarco, who represents Zambelli in Italy, arguments presented against extradition included alleged "procedural flaws" in the Brazilian Supreme Court trial, conditions at the Brazilian prison where she would be sent (Colmeia prison), and the former congresswoman's deteriorated health. The defense has not yet accessed the complete reasoning for the decision, which should be published in coming days. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Segundo o advogado Pieremilio Sammarco, que defende a ex-deputada na Itália, foram apresentados como argumentos contra a extradição supostos "vícios processuais" no julgamento feito pelo STF (Supremo Tribunal Federal), as condições carcerárias no presídio no Brasil para onde ela iria e o estado de saúde de Zambelli"
Friday's decision refers only to the first extradition process, related to the CNJ invasion. A second extradition request, concerning her conviction for illegal firearm possession — a case where Zambelli pursued an armed man in São Paulo on the eve of the 2022 election runoff — is still pending in Italian courts without a defined trial date. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Um segundo pedido de extradição continua tramitando de forma paralela e autônoma nas instâncias daquele país. Este novo processo ainda aguarda um desfecho, sem data definida"
Despite the judicial denial, the process will still undergo analysis by Italy's Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, who will have up to 45 days to provide a definitive opinion on extradition. Should it favor Brazil, the Brazilian government will have additional time to organize the former congresswoman's transfer. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O caso ainda depende de manifestação do ministro da Justiça da Itália, Carlo Nordio, que tem o prazo de 45 dias para se pronunciar a partir do acórdão da nova decisão"
The Court of Cassation's decision specifically overturned the process related to the CNJ invasion, not affecting the second process on illegal firearm possession
Zambelli had been imprisoned since July 2025 in a prison on the outskirts of Rome
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
The defense alleged Zambelli's health problems as an argument against extradition
Zambelli's family considered the decision a "miracle"
Conflicting versions (1)
Court of Cassation precedent on extraditions to Brazil
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What were the specific legal grounds that led the Court of Cassation to overturn the previous decision?
Why it's still unknown: The Supreme Court has not yet formally released the ruling with complete justification for the decision
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What will be Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio's position on the case?
Why it's still unknown: The minister has up to 45 days to comment from the ruling's publication, a period that has not yet begun
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How will the Italian decision affect the second extradition process related to illegal firearm possession?
Why it's still unknown: The second process proceeds separately and still has no defined trial date set by Italian courts
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What are the specific terms of the Brazil-Italy extradition treaty that apply to the case?
Why it's still unknown: No outlet detailed the specific articles of the bilateral agreement in force since 1993 that regulate cases like this