Áñez upon leaving prison | Áñez al salir del penal

By Brújula Digital:

“I will never regret having served my country”

With a Bolivian flag and alongside her two children, José Armando and Carolina Ribera Áñez, the former president left the Miraflores prison at 10:59 a.m. She was greeted by a large crowd.

Former president Jeanine Áñez, together with her children, leaves prison. Photo: APG

Former Bolivian president Jeanine Áñez was released today at 10:59 a.m. from the Miraflores women’s prison, after the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) annulled the sentence in the “Coup II” case.

Carrying a Bolivian flag and accompanied by her children, José Armando and Carolina Ribera Áñez, the former head of state was welcomed by a crowd gathered outside the women’s facility.

“I will never regret having served my country when my country needed me; that is the commitment that every Bolivian who loves his country must make,” declared Áñez, who spent four years and eight months in prison.

“Jamás voy a arrepentirme de haber servido a mi patria”, dice Áñez al salir del penal

Áñez: It was a fraud

She stated that the Supreme Court’s decision proves that what happened in 2019 was not a coup d’état but an electoral fraud.

“So that it is recognized that there was no coup d’état in this country — what there was, was an electoral fraud that led all Bolivians to demand that our votes be respected. I want the entire Bolivian people to know that,” she said.

She recalled that she assumed the interim presidency “with great conviction and good faith,” even though she knew that decision involved personal risk.

Thanks to God and her family

Áñez admitted that her time in prison was “very hard and painful” for her and her family, but she emphasized that the experience strengthened her resilience.

She said she was treated “like a criminal without any compassion,” despite her deteriorating health. She added that, as a result, she now suffers from “memory lapses,” although she affirmed that she remains strong and standing.

She thanked God for giving her the strength to endure imprisonment and for blessing her with her children.

“I had God’s support, and that helped me a lot to bear this cross, with the company of my son in another stage, with his gentleness, with his patience.”

“Jamás voy a arrepentirme de haber servido a mi patria”, dice Áñez al salir del penal

Background

The president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Romer Saucedo, confirmed on Wednesday that the Court ordered “the annulment of the final sentence and, consequently, immediate release through the criminal enforcement judge of the city of La Paz.”

The “Coup II” case referred to charges of issuing resolutions contrary to the Constitution and breach of duties. Áñez was prosecuted for having assumed the presidency of the country after the resignation of Evo Morales, who was accused of promoting fraud in the October 2019 general elections and later left the country.

BD/JA

“Jamás voy a arrepentirme de haber servido a mi patria”, dice Áñez al salir del penal

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