Bolivia’s Áñez reveals she suffers from “anorexia nervosa,” claims government “seeks” her “death”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Áñez spoke at a hearing in which a decision will be made on the extension of her preventive detention for another 6 months on charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy in the framework of the so-called ‘coup d’état case‘.

The ex-president said in the session that she is the victim of insults in prison and denounced that she is not allowed to meet with her attorneys, was prevented from having a private consultation with her psychiatrist, as well as access to communication means to talk to her.

She also complained that she has been denied hospitalization, as she requested due to her state of health – she has been diagnosed with hypertension and anxiety – and stressed that she is being given “improvised medication of dubious effectiveness.”

The former president added that the medications she takes “often” make her “sleepy and even hallucinate” and reported that she suffers from “anorexia nervosa,” which further “aggravates” the malnutrition she was suffering.

In addition to stating that she is a “trophy” for the government of president Luis Arce, Áñez lamented that all these situations that she denounced occur “under the impassive watch” of Miraflores prison authorities, in La Paz, where she is being held in pre-trial detention.

After these statements, the ex-president experienced discomfort, which led to the hearing being suspended and adjourned to Saturday.

The Prison Administration said that she is “stable” and received “constant” medical care after the incident.

Áñez is imprisoned, accused of sedition, terrorism and conspiracy. She has also been charged with genocide for her part in the 2019 post-election crisis. During her time in prison, she has suffered from several health issues and a recent suicide attempt.