Peasant leader Nelson Virreyra arrested in Bolivia after announcing new protests

Published at: 06/10/2026 01:38 PM

The executive of the Single Trade Union Federation of Peasant Workers of the Republic of Bolivia, Nelson Virreyra, was arrested this Tuesday by security forces and transferred to the Special Force to Combat Crime (FELCC) when he was on his way to a meeting of social organizations.

The arrest of the peasant leader related to the Evista sector occurred while future mobilizations were being coordinated, to which the leader himself denounced that the judicial action responds to a pattern of “political persecution” to curb popular discontent against the administration of President Rodrigo Paz.

Virreyra based the pressure measures on the serious shortage of food and fuel that the nation is experiencing, as well as on the economic measures implemented by the Executive, including the elimination of the diesel subsidy, urgent demands that have not been addressed in a timely manner.

The leader, who led roadblocks for more than 50 days in the month of June and had announced a new plan of struggle starting on October 13, also questioned the paralysis of the investigations in the Cerimedo case, while the social sectors of the Bolivian people demand concrete answers to the socio-economic crisis.

Mazo News Team