Bolivia arrests political adviser to Latin American right-wingers

What the report says

Bolivian authorities have arrested Fernando Cerimedo, an Argentine political consultant who has advised or worked on campaigns for several prominent right-wing leaders in Latin America, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, according to Al Jazeera citing AFP. The arrest took place on Tuesday in Bolivia, at an airport where Cerimedo was reportedly trying to leave for Argentina.

The detention came after an attack on lawyer and activist Nadia Beller in Santa Cruz. Security video described by the publisher shows two men, dressed as delivery drivers, approaching Beller outside a hotel, shooting her at close range and taking some of her belongings before fleeing. Beller was said to have been four weeks pregnant at the time.

Al Jazeera reported that Beller believes she was targeted because of her opposition to proposed measures under Decree 5503 and because she had information about corruption. The decree, which she described as unconstitutional, is said to include economic reforms such as cutting state fuel subsidies and rolling back policies from Bolivia’s former socialist government. Beller also said in a video from hospital that Cerimedo’s political influence was significant.

Bolivia’s vice president, Edmand Lara, said the attack endangered life, democracy and freedom of expression, and urged an impartial investigation. The case is notable because it links a violent attack, a high-profile political consultant and wider disputes over Bolivia’s political and economic direction.