Bolivia: Prosecutors drop charges in second case related to Zúñiga's attempted coup

Prosecutors in La Paz have closed a second legal case against former General Juan José Zúñiga, stemming from the military uprising in June 2024. This case, referred to by authorities as "coup II," had focused on individuals accused of acting as facilitators and operators of the attempted coup.

The decision means that charges have been dropped against Ramiro Flores Montaño for allegedly attacking the president and other state dignitaries, as well as against Jorge Valda Daza and Andrés Ribera Salas for terrorism and armed rebellion in complicity. The prosecution stated that insufficient objective evidence was found to individually implicate the accused in these specific crimes.

In June, Zúñiga led a four-hour occupation of Murillo Square, an event the government labeled a coup d'état. Authorities subsequently initiated three legal processes against those involved. The main trial, "coup I," includes 22 defendants and is ongoing in La Paz, proceeding slowly with witness testimonies still being heard. A third case, "coup III," which targeted alleged financiers of the uprising, was also closed on August 21, with defendants acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

The prosecution's memorial acknowledged a "clear lack of proof to support a potential fiscal accusation" in the "coup II" case. Consequently, only the main "Zuñigazo" trial, named after the general, remains active.