Prosecutor Charges Bolivian President Evo Morales With Sexual Abuse Of a Minor And Orders His Arrest

Bolivian prosecutors formally charged former President Evo Morales with aggravated human trafficking and reactivated an arrest warrant against him. Morales, who governed Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, is accused of exploiting a minor with whom he allegedly had a child.

Sandra Gutiérrez, the departmental prosecutor of Tarija, confirmed the charges against Morales and Idelsa Pozo Saavedra, the alleged victim's mother. According to the complaint, Morales had a daughter with a 15-year-old girl when he was 57. It also alleged that he got in touch with her in exchange for political favors for her parents.

Gutiérrez said authorities are waiting for a judge to schedule a hearing to determine next steps, including potentially approving the arrest warrant.

The investigation began in September, but Morales has not cooperated, refusing to appear for questioning. Authorities say Morales has been shielded by his political base in the Chapare region, where protests and blockades by his supporters have hindered law enforcement efforts.

According to the accusations, Morales' alleged victim was part of a youth group called 'Generación Evo', created during his presidency. The minor's parents allegedly benefited financially by facilitating her relationship with Morales.

Gutiérrez also requested a migration alert for Morales and Pozo to prevent them from leaving the country.

The arrest warrant, initially issued on October 16, has faced significant challenges in execution. Intelligence reports indicate Morales was not found at his registered address or other locations under surveillance. Efforts to detain him have been further hampered by widespread roadblocks organized by his supporters, as well as concerns over the safety of law enforcement officers after violent attacks during earlier attempts.

Morales has reportedly stayed in Chapare, his political stronghold and a no-go zone for authorities, claiming protection from 500 supporters. "There will be insurgency and convulsion," warned local leader Dieter Mendoza in October.

At that time, Morales denounced that the accusations are part of a political persecution plot against him spearheaded by the current government (and whose president, Luis Arce, was a close ally of him) arguing it seeks to dismantle the popular movement he leads. "The goal is to decapitate the Bolivian popular movement," he said on his X account, . He added that the accusations reflect the government's desperation in the face of a grave economic crisis.

"This is not a political case. We are protecting the rights of a person who has been violated, with the consent of her parents," Gutiérrez said, emphasizing the prosecution's focus on justice for the alleged victim.

Morales faces similar accusations in Argentina, where authorities have opened an investigation into alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse during his time there as a refugee in 2019 under then-President Alberto Fernández.