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Saturday, August 21, 2021

Ex-Bolivian president faces genocide charges over deaths of protesters

Ms Anez’s conservative supporters say they were acting to prevent an attempt to rig the election.

• August 21, 2021
Former Bolivian president Jeanine Anez
Former Bolivian president Jeanine Anez ( Credit: UK Guardian)

ŔFormer Bolivian president Jeanine Anez could be facing charges of genocide, deadly assault and serious assault, prosecutors said on Friday.

The charges relate to the deaths of 20 people during riots in November 2019, for which the prosecutors consider Ms Anez responsible.

Ms Anez ascended to the presidency in an interim role after former president Evo Morales fled the country amid allegations of an attempt to fix an election.

Much of her time in office was spent trying to press charges against people affiliated with Mr Morales.

However, an election last year brought a political ally of Mr Morales into the presidency.

Since then, law enforcement has focused on Ms Anez and her allies.

The parliament must still approve the charges against Ms Anez.

A group of experts has already backed a report claiming that there were human rights violations in the confusion following Mr Morales’ flight from Bolivia.

The report alleged that the police and security teams used excessive force trying to restore order following the disputed elections.

Mr Morales and his left-wing supporters say the move to oust him was a coup.

But Ms Anez’s conservative supporters say they were acting to prevent an attempt to rig the election.

(dpa/NAN)

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