US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken called on Saturday March 27 for the release of former interim government officials in Bolivia, detained and prosecuted since mid-March for an alleged coup against former President Evo Morales.
"
We call on the Bolivian government to make clear its support for peace, democracy, and national reconciliation by releasing the former officials detained,
" the secretary of state said in a statement.
Antony Blinken also expressed "
deep concern
" of the United States over "
the growing signs of an anti-democratic attitude and politicization of the judicial system in Bolivia
".
Read also: Bolivia: new accusations against the former president
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia described the American declaration as "a
deplorable manifestation of interference in internal affairs
".
In a statement, the administration of left-wing President Luis Arce said the American attitude "
does not help develop a relationship of mutual respect
" between the two countries.
Read also: Bolivia: the pre-trial detention of former President Añez extended by two months
Former conservative interim president Jeanine Añez was arrested on March 14 on charges of “
sedition
”, “
terrorism
”, and “
conspiracy
”.
She is in preventive detention in a prison in La Paz for a period of six months, and on Tuesday four new charges were brought by the Bolivian justice against her.
Two of his former ministers were also arrested, and arrest warrants were issued against several other personalities.
Noxious political climate
In November 2019, Evo Morales was forced to resign by an uprising after being proclaimed the winner of the presidential election where he was running for a fourth term, but accused of fraud by the opposition.
After a campaign of demonstrations during which at least 35 people were killed, Evo Morales, released by the police and the army, resigned and took refuge in Mexico and then in Argentina.
Jeanine Añez was sworn in as interim president two days after Evo Morales resigned.
The latter returned to Bolivia after the victory in the presidential election of October 2020 of his dolphin Luis Arce, who succeeded Jeanine Añez.