Fernando Cerimedo, a consultant advising Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, was ordered to serve 180 days of preventive detention at the Palmasola maximum-security prison in Santa Cruz following an attempted femicide charge, according to the Fiscalía de Bolivia. Judge Wilson Espada issued the ruling on August 22, 2026, following a shooting on August 17 that targeted the suspect’s former partner, Nadia Beller.
Detention and Evidence in the Attempted Femicide Investigation
According to departmental prosecutor Carlos Torres, law enforcement arrested Cerimedo on August 20 in Aranjuez, La Paz. During the operation, authorities seized more than half a million bolivianos alongside quantities of dollars and euros. Prosecutors also uncovered a bot farm allegedly used to manipulate social media trends through automated mass interactions.
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The investigation centers on the August 17 attack against Nadia Beller, who survived three gunshot wounds while pregnant. According to court records cited by the prosecution, evidence includes text messages attributed to Cerimedo, such as, “Nos vendió Nadia. O la eliminamos o estamos jodidos. ¿Conoces a alguien que pueda hacer ese trabajo?” Additional communications recovered by investigators directed the victim to remain quiet, with messages stating, “Nos vas a fregar a todos, no hagas eso, esperá unos días.”
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The investigation also identified messages received from a contact using the pseudonym ECG. According to statements from victim Nadia Beller and former president Evo Morales, this identifier corresponds to Erick Correa González, who serves as the head of intelligence for the administration of President Rodrigo Paz.
Legal Defense Arguments and Judicial Rejection
Defense attorneys Ernesto Giraldes and Margarita Arce contested the legality of the proceedings during the court hearings. According to the defense team, authorities committed procedural irregularities, including opening the suspect’s cellular phone without defense representation, executing an arbitrary arrest, and delaying the presentation of the accused before a judge.
Magistrate Wilson Espada rejected these arguments. The judge determined that the digital evidence, call logs, and extracted chat messages presented by the prosecution provided sufficient legal grounds to justify the six-month preventive detention order while the five active judicial processes against Cerimedo proceed.
Broader Political Ramifications and International Reactions
The criminal proceedings against Cerimedo have triggered wide international commentary. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly characterized the political consultant as a “feminicida” following reports of the attack. Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei, a political ally of the detained strategist, has not altered plans to participate in the upcoming “Gala Hispana” event organized by Latino Wall Street and La Derecha Diario, a media outlet founded by Cerimedo.
Investigators continue to examine the broader context of the shooting. According to the ongoing inquiry, Cerimedo allegedly collaborated within this network alongside President Rodrigo Paz and Maria Elena Urquidi, who reportedly functioned as an intermediary in financial transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fernando Cerimedo currently being held?
According to judicial rulings issued on August 22, 2026, Cerimedo is held under maximum-security conditions at the Palmasola penal facility in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
What specific charges does the political consultant face?
The Fiscalía de Bolivia has charged Cerimedo with attempted femicide (tentativa de feminicidio) and corruption among a total of five ongoing judicial processes.
What evidence led to the preventive detention order?
Prosecutors presented seized currency exceeding half a million bolivianos, a suspected bot farm for social media manipulation, and recovered text messages containing threats directed at the victim.
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