Bolivian justice system dictates preventive detention against Fernando Cerimedo for attempted femicide
The Bolivian justice system has ordered 180 days of pretrial detention for Argentine citizen Fernando Cerimedo. This precautionary measure is in response to an ongoing investigation into the alleged crime of attempted femicide against his ex-partner, Nadia Beller, who was seriously injured following an armed attack last Monday.
The decision was made during a hearing held in Santa Cruz, where the court determined that there is sufficient evidence to point to Cerimedo as the probable perpetrator of the attack, also identifying five procedural risks that justify his detention. According to Jerjes Justiniano, the victim’s lawyer, the defendant will serve the measure in the maximum-security wing of the Palmasola prison in Santa Cruz, following a change in the initial provision that contemplated his transfer to the Chonchocoro facility in La Paz.
Case details and political repercussions
Fernando Cerimedo was captured on Tuesday at the main airport in Santa Cruz, shortly after Beller received at least three gunshot wounds. While the Bolivian Prosecutor’s Office moves forward with the charge of attempted femicide, the detainee’s legal team has described the process as a setup with political motives, arguing that it seeks to destabilize the current administration.
Cerimedo’s legal defense has attempted to distance the event from the personal sphere, suggesting that the case has a political background due to the victim’s previous connections with the Movement for Socialism.
The incident has sparked a strong public debate due to the professional relationship Cerimedo maintained with the Bolivian government. Although official spokespersons have clarified that the Argentine acted as a collaborator on communication strategies during the electoral campaign, they have denied that he was part of the formal structure of the State.
Fernando Cerimedo’s Profile
Cerimedo’s name has gained regional relevance due to his career in the field of political communication. Among his background highlights are:
- Active participation in Javier Milei’s communication strategy during the 2023 Argentine presidential campaign.
- Founding of the news portal La Derecha Diario in 2021.
- Links investigated by the Brazilian justice system related to the events of January 8, 2023, in Brazil.
For the moment, the Bolivian authorities are keeping the case under a strict judicial process, while the victim continues under medical care after surviving the attack.
