Fernando Cerimedo given preventive detention for attempted femicide in Bolivia; his ex-partner survived an attack

A Bolivian court has ordered the preventive detention of Argentine national Fernando Cerimedo for 180 days following allegations of attempted femicide against his ex-partner, who survived a gun attack that occurred on Monday. The decision was made during a precautionary hearing held in Santa Cruz, where the judge ruled that Cerimedo should be detained due to his likely involvement in the crime and the presence of five procedural risks. According to Jerjes Justiniano, the lawyer representing the victim, Nadia Beller, the initial plan had been to place Cerimedo in the maximum security prison of Chonchocoro in the highlands of La Paz, as requested by both Beller's defense team and the prosecution. However, at the request of Cerimedo’s legal representatives, he was instead sent to the maximum security wing of Palmasola prison in Santa Cruz. Cerimedo was arrested on Tuesday at the main airport in Santa Cruz, shortly after an armed attack carried out by unknown individuals against Beller, who suffered at least three gunshot wounds. The prosecution has charged him with the alleged crime of attempted femicide. The defense team for Cerimedo claimed earlier this week that the case is being used politically to destabilize President Rodrigo Paz’s government, citing Beller’s past association with the Movement for Socialism (MAS), the political party led by former president Evo Morales. Critics of Paz, including Morales and Vice President Edmundo Lara, have suggested that Cerimedo served as a close advisor to the current president during his campaign for the general elections of 2025. They claim that he continued to work on specific communication issues afterward, though the Bolivian government denies such formal ties. According to presidential spokesperson José Luis Gálvez, Cerimedo was a close collaborator of Paz during the 2025 election campaign and later continued to assist with certain communication matters, but did not become part of the state structure. This information came to light on Tuesday, adding another layer of complexity to the case. Cerimedo had previously played a role in the communications strategy of Argentina’s current president, Javier Milei, during Milei’s 2023 presidential campaign. He was also linked to an investigation in Brazil regarding the January 8, 2023, attempt to overthrow the government. Additionally, he founded the website La Derecha Diario in 2021. The Bolivian prosecutor’s office has also launched another investigation against him for alleged illicit enrichment. The incident has drawn attention to the relationship between Cerimedo and President Paz, particularly given the political tensions surrounding the MAS party and its influence within Bolivia. The case has sparked discussions about the potential motivations behind the charges, especially considering the broader political context involving Paz and his opponents. The suspension of Cerimedo’s hearing highlights the ongoing legal proceedings and the complexities surrounding the case. His arrest and subsequent detention reflect the seriousness with which authorities are treating the alleged crime, while the political implications continue to unfold. The situation remains under scrutiny as further developments emerge.