Fernando Cerimedo, a 42-year-old businessman and political strategist, was detained at an airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra on suspicion of orchestrating an attempted murder. The arrest followed an attack on Nadia Beller, a Bolivian lawyer, who was shot outside a hotel the previous evening by two individuals dressed as delivery workers. Beller survived the shooting and was hospitalized. According to authorities, she reported believing the incident was a coordinated trap set by Cerimedo.
Cerimedo has served as an influential adviser to several prominent right-wing political figures across Latin America. He worked as a consultant to Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz Pereira and played a significant strategic role in Argentine President Javier Milei’s successful 2023 campaign. He has also been credited with facilitating connections between regional leaders and the Trump administration, including securing endorsements for Honduras’s president-elect Nasry Asfura.
According to police statements, Beller told investigators she had been lured to the hotel through anonymous messages claiming to offer evidence related to former Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is facing arrest warrants. Local authorities indicated they were investigating the possibility of a romantic dispute between the two parties in the days preceding the attack. Beller stated she believed the incident had been orchestrated by Cerimedo.
Cerimedo’s legal representative denied the allegations, stating his client had traveled to the city to visit Beller in the hospital and was not attempting to flee the country. Bolivia’s presidential office noted that Cerimedo held no formal government position, though he served as a personal consultant. President Paz Pereira expressed support for Beller and pledged the administration would not interfere with the investigation.
Cerimedo’s record also includes involvement in political activities outside Bolivia and Argentina. Brazilian federal police had previously indicted him in connection with activities related to a failed coup attempt, though prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue charges after determining insufficient evidence could be established regarding his knowledge of false information.
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