Former President of Bolivia Evo Morales (2006-2019) presented this Thursday, through his lawyer, a legal justification for failing to appear when summoned to the prosecutor’s office in the case in which he is being investigated. “human trafficking” and “legislative”.

“We presented the memorial and promulgated this constitutional decree, which prescribes the direction of procedural actions to Cochabamba,” said Jorge Perez, a former lawyer for the governor and leader of the government’s Movement to Socialism (MAS).

The complaint, in the possession of Bolivian prosecutors, indicates that Morales would have committed crimes of “human trafficking” and “rape” with a minor with whom he allegedly had a child.

The victim allegedly belonged to the youth group Generation Evo, created by the politician during his presidency.

According to investigators, these events occurred in the southern region of Tarija; however, Lawyer Perez said the case should be investigated where the accused “originates”that is, in the central region of Tropica Cochabamba, Morales’s political and trade union bastion, where the former ruler resides.

For the former president’s defense, the constitutional ruling is a “legal barrier” for Morales to testify.

To this legal situation are added “material obstacles” that do not provide adequate guarantees of the safety of the person under investigation.

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Perez criticized the movement of more than 600 police officers in Tarija, which the government of Luis Arce ordered in connection with a possible statement by Morales.

“Definitely there is an intimidation scenario“Said a lawyer who was government minister (interior) during the Morales administration.

NGOs that follow Morales warned that day that if prosecutors issue an arrest warrant for the former president They will begin blockade of national roads.

Bolivia’s former president says he will defend himself against this “legal battle” that For him, this is nothing more than “political persecution.” and announced that more than 200 lawyers had called him to defend him “for free.”

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The complaint against the former president was filed on September 26 with the Tarija prosecutor’s office, three days after Morales and thousands of his followers followed a 187-kilometer march presented an ultimatum to the Arce governmentwith whom he is fighting for control of the MAS.

The Puebla Group, a political and academic forum composed of representatives of the Latin American political left, expressed concern about the “legitimate campaign” or the political prosecution of a MAS leader. (EFE)