Bolivia's Supreme Court of Justice investigates Evo Morales and García Linera over Hotel Las Américas case
Bolivia's Supreme Court of Justice has opened a preliminary investigation against former president Evo Morales and his former vice-president over events in 2009 in Santa Cruz.
Bolivia opens preliminary phase against Morales and García Linera over deaths in Santa Cruz
The Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Bolivia gave approval to the accusation against former president Evo Morales and former vice-president Álvaro García Linera in the "Hotel Las Américas" case, according to lajornadasanluis.com.mx. The events date back to 16 April 2009, when three foreigners were killed in Santa Cruz and two others detained, identified at the time by the government as alleged members of a "separatist terrorist cell".
"Proceedings were initiated for the opening of the preliminary investigation stage," declared magistrate Carlos Ortega at a press conference. Ortega added that the attorney general and the signatories of the accusatory motion were notified, and that the decree initiating the preliminary investigation should be developed within a period of 30 days.
The magistrate instructed the Court of Justice of Chuquisaca to notify Morales and García Linera at their respective residences within 48 to 72 hours.
The accusatory motion was presented by the parliamentary group of the Libre party, founded by former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga — who served as president between 2001 and 2002 and was a presidential candidate in 2025 — with the aim of investigating the crimes of murder, harassment, torture and unlawful detention allegedly committed during the exercise of public office by both former officials.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) had already determined that human rights violations occurred in those events, so the Bolivian State must carry out the corresponding reparations.
Source: Google News BO — Crime