RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday May 5, received Robson Oliveira, who worked for soccer player Fernando Martins and was recently pardoned by Russia after two years in detention on drug trafficking charges,
Bolsonaro went to Rio’s Galeão International Airport (GIG) to welcome Oliveira, whose situation aroused the president’s interest last year and culminated with his return to Brazil, after negotiations with Vladimir Putin’s government.
Oliveira was arrested by Russian authorities on March 17, 2019, for entering that country with two boxes of medicine containing methadone, a substance considered illicit in Russia – but not in Brazil – for which he was charged with drug trafficking.
He was then serving as an employee of Brazilian midfielder Fernando Martins, who was a Spartak Moscow soccer player and in mid-2019 left for China’s Beijing Guoan, where he continues to play.
Oliveira’s defense counsel always maintained out that the drugs were for Fernando’s father-in-law, although neither the footballer nor his family confirmed that version.
Bolsonaro’s government, in power since January 1, 2019, took an interest in the case and spared no diplomatic efforts to obtain Oliveira’s release, which finally materialized through a pardon granted by Putin.
“Freedom, for us, is priceless. I publicly thank President Putin and his government for having signed this pardon, which is very significant for the Brazilian people,” said Bolsonaro, next to Oliveira and some of his family members.
The head of state also advised that Oliveira would work as a chauffeur for federal deputy Hélio Lopes (PSL-RJ), a personal friend of the president and one of his most loyal allies in Congress.
For his part, Oliveira said he felt a “sense of relief” to be back in Brazil. “I never lost (hope) because I was innocent. Something had to happen. It was very, very difficult over there. There was no easy moment,” he added in statements to the press.