A Bolivian court ordered six months of preventive detention on Monday for peasant leader Vicente Salazar over roadblocks that the Ministry of Government says he led between May and June demanding President Rodrigo Paz’ resignation.
Prosecutor Walter Lora, part of the Public Prosecutor’s commission on the case, told media that a formal indictment was filed over the weekend after Salazar’s arrest, on alleged charges of public instigation to commit crimes, criminal association, terrorism, attack on public services, and attack on means of transport. Lora added that the court found sufficient evidentiary grounds for the probable commission of those offences, and that the prosecution had argued procedural risks to justify preventive custody.
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The blockades were spearheaded by the La Paz peasant federation and the Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB), later drawing support from groups aligned with former president Evo Morales, all pressing for Paz to step down after he assumed the Presidency last November. The protests dragged on for more than 50 days across multiple regions.
Following accords with sectors including the COB, Paz decreed a state of exception on June 20 to lift the blockades, prompting police and army deployments to clear roads of obstructions.
Justicia boliviana dicta 6 meses de detención preventiva contra Vicente Salazar, dirigente de la federación Túpac Katari, recluido en Chonchocoro por los bloqueos de caminos que exigían la renuncia del presidente Rodrigo Paz. #Bolivia #teleSUR pic.twitter.com/tSGkdhO3rB
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) July 7, 2026
Salazar had been arrested on Saturday by police officers while travelling in a vehicle in El Alto, the city neighbouring La Paz.
Separately, the Civic Committee of the eastern Santa Cruz region has filed another criminal complaint against Salazar, Morales, and COB leader Mario Argollo over alleged armed uprising, terrorism, and criminal association.
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