The Brazilian government has formally recognized its responsibility for the murder of Vladimir Herzog, a journalist and dissident who was killed during the country’s dictatorship. This decision has been welcomed by Herzog’s family, who have been fighting for justice for decades.
On Thursday, the government issued a statement of liability and agreed to a compensation package for the family, totaling 3 million reais ($544,800). The agreement also includes retroactive payments of a monthly pension for Herzog’s widow, Clarice Herzog, which she should have received following her husband’s death.
Ivo Herzog, Vladimir’s son, applauded the government’s recognition of responsibility, stating that the apology is not only symbolic but also an acknowledgment that the current Brazilian state does not support the practices of the past dictatorship.
Vladimir Herzog was murdered in 1975 at the age of 38 during a period of military rule known for its human rights abuses. He was summoned to an army barrack by authorities and never returned home. The military later claimed his death was a suicide and released a staged photo, but a rabbi who examined his body found signs of torture. The incident marked a pivotal moment against the Brazilian dictatorship and turned into a symbol of its brutality.
The compensation package represents a decades-long struggle not only for the Herzog family but also for families of other victims of the dictatorship who suffered arbitrary arrests, torture, and disappearances. The number of deaths attributed to the dictatorship ranges from 500 to 10,000, depending on sources.
The current government has compared the 1964 coup d’état with the recent political events in Brazil, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings following his defeat in the 2022 election. The modern circumstances highlight the ongoing struggle between democracy and authoritarianism in Brazil.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/27/brazil-announces-compensation-for-dictatorship-victim-vladimir-herzog?traffic_source=rss
