Flavio Bolsonaro, who fled to the United States in defiance of a court travel ban following his defeat in Brazil's presidential election, has claimed that he left the country to escape persecution.

Citing local time October 30, AFP reported that Flavio Bolsonaro, a member of the right-wing Liberal Party (PL), explained his motives for fleeing via social media.

Bolsonaro, a sitting federal senator, was defeated by incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party (PT) in the presidential runoff election held on October 25.

He then secretly left Brazil on October 27, passing through Argentina and Ecuador before arriving in Florida, U.S., aboard a private jet on October 28.

In an Instagram video released on October 30 local time, Bolsonaro explained his decision to flee, saying, "The persecution began even earlier than I had expected."

He explained that on October 26, the day after the presidential runoff, he was notified by police that his passport had been invalidated as he was leaving a visit to his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazilian investigative authorities had effectively suspended investigations into allegations including money laundering against Bolsonaro during the election campaign, but resumed them immediately after the election.

With approval from the Supreme Court, authorities subsequently demanded the surrender of his passport as part of an exit ban.

Bolsonaro recalled that at the time, his father had tears in his eyes and asked, "You know what they're trying to do with this, right?"

He added that he replied, "Father, I know... Now I know what I need to do."

However, he did not explain the specific method by which he managed to slip out of Brazil.

Stating that he and his wife made the decision "without anyone knowing," he urged people "not to blame anyone."

Denying the allegations against him as false, Bolsonaro stated, "I did not leave Brazil, I left for Brazil."

He also claimed there was fraud in the presidential runoff.

He compared this to a "handball goal" that is not overturned even after a video review—a foul where a goal is scored with the hand in soccer.

However, he did not specify what exact fraud had taken place.

Claiming that Brazil's economy would be ruined under President Lula's administration, he expressed his intention to run for president again.

"I am not talking about 2030. I am talking about before that," he added.

As Bolsonaro fled the country two days after his election defeat in defiance of a court order and slipped out under the radar of investigative authorities, the Brazilian political sphere, across both ruling and opposition parties, has been left in profound dismay.

AFP reported that U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are also facing pressure to explain the extent of U.S. and Argentine involvement in Bolsonaro's escape.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira agreed on October 30 local time to hold formal bilateral talks within the coming weeks.

The two ministers had a brief, direct encounter on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting being held in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

They subsequently agreed to schedule their meeting ahead of the G20 Summit set to take place in Miami, Florida, U.S., in December of this year.

(Photo: Screenshot from Instagram @flaviobolsonaro, Yonhap News)