Former commander of the Bolivian Armed Forces Juan José Zúñiga arrested after attempted coup d'état

The former commander of the Bolivian Armed Forces, Juan José Zúñiga, has been arrested following an attempted coup d'état on Wednesday.

After an order and opening of an investigation, issued by the Bolivian Public Ministry, Zúñiga was arrested.  Bolivian authorities confirmed that the former commander was arrested after the attempted coup against the Government of President Luis Arce.

Previously, President Luis Arce demanded that Zúñiga abandon his coup plans and send the military to their barracks, but he refused.

The former General Commander of the Bolivian Armed Forces, Juan José Zúñiga, will be charged with contempt for the constitutional order.

Previously, the Bolivian Prosecutor's Office had reported that, as a result of the attempted coup d'état in the country against the constitutional President Luis Arce, the initiation of all legal actions that correspond to the beginning of the criminal investigation against the general was ordered. 

“The Attorney General of the State, Fausto Juan Lanchipa Ponce, immediately, through instruction FGE/JLP No. 243/2024, ordered the initiation of all legal actions that correspond to the beginning of the criminal investigation against General Juan José Zuñiga,” stated the Public Ministry.

This declaration took place, according to the Prosecutor's Office, in light of the latest events that occurred in the city of La Paz, seat of Government, and which are public knowledge considering “the firm commitment of the Public Ministry to the principles that support the Democratic State of Right".

The Prosecutor's Office stated that, in the same way, it provides for the deployment "of all the necessary efforts to obtain the elements of conviction, as well as the issuance of the requirements, subpoena orders, orders and duly substantiated resolutions that correspond to the clarification for the fact investigated and the imposition of the maximum sanction on those responsible.”

By reaffirming its commitment to legality, the Prosecutor's Office also underlined its support for the general interests of society "within the framework of the preservation of our democracy."