Members of the military decorate Bolivia's self-proclaimed 'president' Jeanine Añez with the presidential sash.

La Paz, February 11 (RHC)-- The former de facto president, Jeanine Añez, took office in 2019 without legal backing to appoint her, according to the former representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Bolivia, Denis Racicot.

"Yes.  There was a coup d'état in 2019, with the violent and unconstitutional takeover by Jeanine Áñez and a group of politicians in search of power without there being any legal element to name her president of Bolivia," affirmed the expert.

Racicot affirmed in declarations to Bolivia TV that the former president turned into a queen proclaimed herself because there was no oath of office, no legal element, law or regulation that would lead to the constitutional assumption of the first magistracy of the country.

Referring to the suspension on February 10 of the oral hearing of the trial for the case known as "Coup d'Etat II", he described as "prudent" the decision of the First Criminal Sentencing Court to annul the order to open the process.

He explained that it is a prudent decision because although it will delay the trial, it was agreed with the perspective that, "with great seriousness, the rules of a fair trial will be respected, the rules of the presumption of innocence will be respected, the due process will be respected".

However, he declared himself "a little surprised" by the opening order with such an error, which seems basic, and insisted that it is important that the technical work be free of errors, because these situations affect the vision that both the public and the defendants may have.

Senator urges to stop impunity for coup perpetrators in Bolivia

In Golpe de Estado II, Añez and other former military and police chiefs are investigated for the events of November 2019 before the former senator proclaimed herself president, for which they are accused of breach of duties and unconstitutional resolutions.

In addition to Añez, this case involves Williams Kaliman, former commander of the Armed Forces; Flavio Gustavo Arce, former chief of the General Staff; Pastor Mendieta, head of the Army; Gonzalo Terceros, former chief of the Air Force and Palmiro Jarjury, head of the Navy.

The former commander of the Police, Yuri Calderón, is also accused.

Former congresswoman Lidia Patty filed the complaint through her lawyer, Marcelo Valdez, and in September 2021 the State Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Chamber of Senators began the investigations.

The Public Prosecutor's Office anticipated that it has more than 70 pieces of evidence and around 20 witness statements that indicate that the defendant's conduct was in line with the figure provided for in Article 153 of the Criminal Code, which refers to resolutions contrary to the Constitution and the laws.

The same source emphasized that the behavior of the unelected former president is also in accordance with Article 154 of the same body of law for breach of duties.