Former Bolivian president sentenced to 10 years in prison

Sucre: A Bolivian court has found former President Jeanine Anez guilty of orchestrating a coup that brought her to power during a 2019 political crisis and sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

Former Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges linked to her assumption of office in 2019 amid violent protests that led to the resignation and exile of her predecessor Evo Morales.

The 54-year-old was convicted on Friday of making “decisions contrary to the constitution” and of “dereliction of duty”.

Anez maintains she is innocent. Her defence said it would appeal to international bodies to seek justice, and several sectors of the opposition planned marches to protest against the ruling.

The court also sentenced former Armed Forces commander Williams Kaliman and ex-police commander Vladimir Calderon to 10 years in prison. 

Four other former military chiefs received lesser sentences.

Bolivia has been split over whether a coup occurred when then-President Evo Morales resigned in 2019, with Anez ascending to the presidency amid a leadership vacuum left in his wake. Morales’ departure followed mass protests over a disputed election in which he claimed to win a controversial fourth consecutive term in office.

The contentious case has further exposed the fault lines in a deeply divided country while also heightening concerns about the judicial process in Bolivia.

Jeanine was not allowed to attend the trial in person, instead following the hearing and participating from prison. She has been detained since her arrest in March 2021 on initial charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy.