La Paz, November 14 (RHC)-- The Bolivian government has appealed the decision of two courts not to try the de facto ex-president Jeanine Áñez, who was recognized as constitutional president of the country, through the Minister of Justice, Iván Lima, who filed an amendment and appeal.

Both courts, one in El Alto and the other in Sacaba, declared themselves incompetent to judge Áñez, who on this occasion is charged with genocide for the death of civilians during the period of crisis that the country experienced in 2019, after the coup d'état against the then constitutional president Evo Morales.

"They have already filed the respective appeals.  This means that as long as the departmental courts of justice through their criminal chambers do not rule on this situation that has occurred, we cannot say that these decisions have a legal effect.  They have been suspended," said the official.

He also added that: "The Government considers that there was an excess of both sentencing courts.  The issue of competence has already been the subject of presentations made by former Senator Jeanine Áñez, which have already been rejected".

Regarding the decision made by the judges in both courts favorable to Áñez, Lima stated that the Government is "respectful of the independence of the judges", and until the amendment and appeal appeals filed by the Ministry of Justice are resolved, no action can be taken against them.

"Who is doing Áñez a favor," Senkata activist and victims' representative David Inca told local media. "It seems that we are walking with the enemy (...) this is doing a great favor to Áñez," Inca added.

The former de facto president had already been sentenced to 10 years in prison for violating several norms before she proclaimed herself president after the coup that removed Morales from power.