Áñez, 54, who has been locked up since March last year, dismisses the criminal charges as politically motivated. She is also accused of terrorism and incitement.
The right-wing politician Áñez became Bolivia’s interim president after Socialist leader Morales won the election in October 2019, after running for a fourth term in violation of the constitution. Violent protests erupted after allegations of electoral fraud and the military demanded Morale’s resignation. Eventually he was forced to flee the country – whereupon Jeanine Áñez’s interim government took office.
Áñez’s interim government was in power for eleven months, until last year’s election. During that period, the Conservative government seized several of Morales’ deposed Mas government.
At the beginning of his short-lived presidency, Áñez called in police and military to restore order. The post-election conflict caused about 35 deaths, according to the human rights organization IACHR. For that, Áñez is also facing genocide charges.