The Departmental Prosecutor's Office of Santa Cruz has issued an arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales, accusing him of playing a role in road blockades that brought Bolivia to a standstill for over seven weeks between May and June of 2026, as reported by the EFE news agency.
Prosecutor Brayan Alfredo Melgar Ledezma signed the warrant, charging Morales with terrorism, armed uprising against state security and sovereignty, attacks on transportation safety, criminal association, public incitement to commit crimes, and attacks on public service safety.
The charges were first brought forward in early July by the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee, led by its president, Stello Cochamanidis Garces, and later supported by the Ministry of Government, headed by Marco Antonio Oviedo Huerta.
The warrant also targets Marco Argollo, the top leader of the Bolivian Workers' Center (COB), and Vicente Salazar, the leader of La Paz's peasants, who has been in preventive detention since July 6 due to a separate investigation related to these events.
The blockades, driven by peasants and factions aligned with Morales, demanded the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz as their "only demand," impacting 84 active points across seven of Bolivia's nine departments.
The repercussions were severe: at least 16 individuals lost their lives—13 of them unable to receive timely medical care due to blocked roads—and economic losses surpassed $3 billion.
Morales has denied instigating President Paz's resignation, asserting that the protests aimed to compel the government to address the protesters' grievances. Nonetheless, on May 24, he suggested on social media platform X that the president had only "two paths": either "militarize" the country or call elections within the next 90 days.
After negotiating with several groups, President Paz declared a 90-day state of emergency on June 20, which the Legislative Assembly approved the following day, enabling the deployment of police and military forces to clear the roads. By June 23, all blockades had been dismantled.
This new warrant adds to an existing one issued by the Tarija Prosecutor's Office in October 2024, concerning aggravated human trafficking charges related to an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015, with whom he purportedly had a child the following year.
In May 2026, Morales was declared in contempt and a new immediate arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear at the start of the oral trial in Tarija.
Since October 2024, Morales has remained in the Tropic of Cochabamba, his political and union stronghold, protected by hundreds of supporters maintaining a constant vigil to prevent the enforcement of the judicial orders. The police, meanwhile, claim they are "waiting for the right moment" to enforce them.
Key Questions About Evo Morales' Legal Situation
What are the charges against Evo Morales?
Evo Morales faces charges of terrorism, armed uprising against state security, attacks on transportation safety, criminal association, public incitement to commit crimes, and attacks on public service safety.
How has Morales responded to the accusations?
Morales denies promoting the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz and claims the mobilizations were to pressure the government to address the demands of the protesting sectors.
Where is Evo Morales currently located?
Evo Morales is currently in the Tropic of Cochabamba, a stronghold of his political and union support, surrounded by followers who aim to prevent the execution of arrest orders.