La Paz, February 1 (RHC)-- Bolivia's Former Mining Minister Cesar Navarro and former Agriculture Minister Pedro Dorado were arrested at the El Alto airport on Saturday when they were about to board a plane as political refugees.

For the past 82 days, these Socialists politicians were offered asylum at the Mexican embassy.  Yesterday, they received a safe-conduct allowing their free departure from the country.  “The Mexican embassy transferred the asylees to the El Alto airport with the guarantee granted by the safe-conduct extended by the Bolivian government.  In that sense, the asylees should be transferred to Mexico without any problem,” the Mexican diplomatic delegation tweeted.

Even though international mediators accompanied the politicians, the Interior Ministry arrested them, disrespecting the safe-conduct granted by its government.​​​​

Latin American social organizations immediately harshly criticized Karen Longari, the foreign minister appointed by the U.S.-backed, self-proclaimed president Jeanina Añez, who is ultimately responsible for the ongoing persecution against the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) militants.

“We repudiate the arbitrary and illegal act of detention of former ministers Navarro and Damian, which violates all international standards.  Solidarity!" the Sao Paulo Forum secretary Monica Valente said.

Navarro was provisionally released a few hours after his arrest.  According to his daughter, the former minister was beaten by paramilitary groups during his detention.  Later, Interior Minister Arturo Murillo said that Navarro and Dorado "had been arrested by mistake" and they will leave the country in the next hours.  So far, however, their exact legal status is unknown.

Their detention is part of the long list of MAS supporters persecuted by the Interim government installed after the coup d'etat against Evo Morales, which took place on November 10, 2019.