Bolivia · JUSTICE
Key Facts
- —What happened Adviser to Bolivia’s president charged with attempted femicide over shooting.
- —The victim Lawyer Nadia Beller wounded by gunfire; she filed the complaint.
- —Arrest Cerimedo detained at Viru Viru airport on 18 August 2026 before a flight.
- —Detention Court ordered 180 days of pre-trial custody at Palmasola prison.
- —The catch Charge is an allegation; no conviction, trial date, or gunmen caught yet.
- —What next Investigation continues; no trial date set.
Bolivia’s presidential adviser faces an attempted femicide charge. A shooting in Santa Cruz de la Sierra wounded a lawyer.
The Bolivia attempted femicide case has moved forward with the formal charge of an adviser to President Rodrigo Paz. Prosecutors allege Fernando Gabriel Cerimedo is responsible for the attempted femicide of his former partner, lawyer Nadia Beller.
The Bolivia Attempted Femicide Case Begins
In fact, the Bolivia attempted femicide case centers on an attack outside a hotel in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. On Monday 17 August 2026, however, prosecutors say two armed men posed as couriers and shot lawyer Nadia Beller.
Beller survived and is under medical care. She filed the criminal complaint that opened the case.
The attack happened in the canal Isuto and fifth ring area, a busy commercial district. However, the exact circumstances remain under investigation by prosecutors.
The attack is documented in the official record, but nothing beyond it is confirmed. However, the charging document sets out the location, date, and that Beller suffered gunshot wounds.
Formal Charge Against Adviser
Bolivia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office charged Fernando Gabriel Cerimedo with attempted femicide, meaning the killing was begun but not completed. The charge names him as the principal person under investigation and Beller as the victim.
Prosecutor General Roger Mariaca said Cerimedo is formally under investigation after the armed attack. However, this is an accusation, not a conviction.
Attempted femicide means prosecutors allege the killing was started but not completed. In addition, the charge is based on the armed attack outside the hotel.
Prosecutor Yolanda Aguilera sits on the investigating commission and took part in the charge. In addition, the charge names Cerimedo as the principal person under investigation.
Arrest at Viru Viru Airport
Cerimedo was detained in the early hours of Tuesday 18 August 2026 at Viru Viru international airport. He was about to board a flight, according to police and prosecution sources.
He had arrived in Santa Cruz from La Paz, as reported by Infobae on 19 August. The arrest came a day after the attack.
Viru Viru is the international airport serving Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Meanwhile, the arrest occurred as Cerimedo was about to board a flight.
The arrest came after Cerimedo arrived in Santa Cruz from La Paz. Meanwhile, he was about to board a flight when detained.
Court Orders Preventive Detention
A judge in Santa Cruz de la Sierra ordered 180 days of preventive detention for Cerimedo. This pre-trial custody keeps him in prison while the investigation continues.
The court also ordered his transfer to Palmasola prison, the main prison of the city. Preventive detention is a precautionary measure, not a sentence.
Palmasola prison holds more than 9,500 people, according to a local outlet. However, the detention order is not a conviction, only a precaution.
The court ordered 180 days of preventive detention at the prosecution’s request. However, this measure is not a conviction or a sentence.
Prosecution Seeks Custody
Moreover, prosecutor Yolanda Aguilera had announced the prosecution would seek 180 days of preventive detention. She is part of the investigating commission and took part in the charge.
At the custody hearing, Cerimedo exercised his right to silence and declined to make a statement. Silence is a defendant’s right and carries no implication of guilt.
Prosecutor Aguilera sought the 180-day measure before the hearing. In addition, she is part of the investigating commission handling the case.
Prosecutor Aguilera had announced the 180-day request the day before the hearing. Still, Cerimedo declined to make a statement at the hearing.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The attack occurred outside the Swissôtel hotel in the canal Isuto and fifth ring area of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Prosecutors say two armed men arrived on a motorcycle and posed as couriers.
According to the charging document, Beller was wounded by gunfire. The gunmen have not been caught, according to Prosecutor Aguilera.
Beller filed the criminal complaint that opened the case, according to reports. However, the gunmen’s identities and whereabouts remain unknown.
One person is under arrest to help find the gunmen, according to the prosecutor. However, that person’s name and role have not been made public.
Adviser to Two Presidents
Cerimedo is an Argentine national described as an adviser to Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz. Reuters reported on 18 August 2026 that he was also an adviser to Argentine President Javier Milei.
El País described him as an adviser to Milei and Paz. This is a description of his past work, not a fact about the criminal case.
The description of Cerimedo as adviser to both presidents comes from Reuters and El País. Meanwhile, this role is separate from the criminal charges.
Reuters and El País reported his advisory roles on 18 August 2026. Meanwhile, this description is separate from the criminal case.
Prosecution Theory Remains Allegation
Prosecutors allege Cerimedo was the person who ordered and directed the attack. Still, this appears only in the prosecution’s arguments and has no judicial proof.
There is no conviction and no trial date has been set. Cerimedo remains legally innocent while the preventive detention runs.
The prosecution’s theory of Cerimedo’s role is an allegation, not a fact. As a result, the case has no judicial proof of his involvement.
Prosecutors allege Cerimedo had command over the gunmen, but this is unproven. As a result, there is no judicial proof of his involvement.
Government Response and Next Steps
Bolivian government spokespeople said Cerimedo is at the disposal of the competent authorities. The investigation is now in the hands of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The custody hearing was set for 20 August 2026, and the ruling came the next day. The case continues under judicial oversight.
The government says the investigation is now in the hands of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Meanwhile, the case continues under judicial oversight with no trial date set.
The investigation is now under the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the government said. However, no trial date has been set and the case continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bolivia attempted femicide case?
The Bolivia attempted femicide case involves the charge against Fernando Gabriel Cerimedo, an adviser to President Rodrigo Paz. Prosecutors allege he is responsible for an armed attack on his former partner, lawyer Nadia Beller, who survived.
Who is Nadia Beller?
Nadia Beller is a lawyer and the former partner of Fernando Cerimedo, according to the case record. She was wounded in the attack and filed the criminal complaint that opened the case.
What does attempted femicide mean in Bolivia?
Attempted femicide means prosecutors allege the killing of a woman on gender grounds was begun but not completed. It is a charge, not a finding of guilt.
What is preventive detention?
Preventive detention is pre-trial custody ordered by a judge to keep a suspect in prison while the investigation continues. It is a precautionary measure, not a conviction or a sentence.
Connected Coverage
Sources: Ministerio Público de Bolivia; eju.tv; Infobae América; La Nación; TN; El País; Reuters; Visión 360; Código Penal de Bolivia.
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