Italian court blocks Brazil's extradition request, freeing ex‑deputy Carla Zambelli

On 22 May 2026 the Italian Court of Cassation, the nation’s highest judicial body, rejected Brazil’s request to extradite former federal deputy Carla Zambelli. The ruling overturned earlier decisions by the Court of Appeal that had authorized her removal to Brazil to serve a ten‑year sentence for hacking the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) and a separate conviction for illegal firearm possession.

Zambelli, who holds dual Italian‑Brazilian citizenship, had been detained in the women’s prison of Rebibbia in Rome since July 2025 while Brazil’s government sought her return. After the Cassation decision she was released and posted a video on social media thanking her lawyers, saying, “Agora, a gente está livre para continuar uma vida de missão. Vocês não sabem ainda qual é essa missão, mas logo vão saber pelos meus canais,” and adding, “Consagro a minha liberdade como uma vitória de Deus.”

The final step now rests with Italy’s Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, who has 45 days to issue the administrative act that would confirm the court’s decision. Until that sign‑off, Zambelli remains free in Italy but is still subject to Brazil’s Interpol red‑notice and the outstanding convictions.

The case follows a similar denial earlier in the year of a Brazilian blogger’s extradition, highlighting ongoing diplomatic tensions over Brazil’s judicial proceedings against political opponents.