Political and social crisis in Bolivia: 14 attacks against the press in seven days

Over the past seven days, RSF documented at least 14 acts of violence while media professionals were covering protests, road blockades and clashes linked to the social and political crisis in Bolivia. The alleged perpetrators included demonstrators, groups involved in roadblocks, members of mining cooperatives and riot police officers.

RSF has learned that reporters and media crews say they have stopped wearing press credentials or visible identification and have instead chosen to cover demonstrations from a distance or anonymously, out of fear of being attacked.

Two attacks a day against the press

Among the 14 cases documented by RSF is that of F10 television journalist Jeruslava Ojeda: on 12 May, she suffered a knee fracture and ligament damage while covering a clash between political actors in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the country's economic capital. Her microphone was also damaged.

On 16 May, journalists Vladimir Rojas, from the television network Unitel, and Ramiro Charca, from the broadcaster Radio Television Popular (RTP), were injured by stone-throwing and fragments from dynamite explosions. They were caught in an ambush carried out by demonstrators blocking roads in Lipari, south of La Paz, the administrative capital. According to Bolivia's National Press Association (ANP), Vladimir Rojas suffered leg injuries after falling while attempting to flee and was violently held for several minutes by the "road blockers", who also destroyed his mobile phone, according to several testimonies from journalists harassed and chased in the Lipari/Mecapaca area. Ramiro Charca, meanwhile, suffered bruising to his arm after being struck by a stone thrown by demonstrators. In addition, the vehicle carrying the broadcaster's press team was targeted with stones thrown from the surrounding heights of the region.

On the same day, in El Alto, on the outskirts of La Paz, the director of the television channel Red América Television, Teofila Parisaca, and FAP TV journalist Javier Averanga were targeted while reporting. They were attacked by groups carrying out roadblocks and were later stopped by riot police, who attempted to arrest them despite the fact that they had identified themselves as members of the press. They were also affected by tear gas fired towards the gathering.

Two days later, on 18 May, Gigavision cameraman Hugo Machicado suffered leg injuries caused by fragments from dynamite detonated by demonstrators in central La Paz, near Plaza Murillo and the Office of the Vice-President of the State. In another incident, a Radio Cordial journalist fainted due to tear gas exposure.

RSF also documented attacks against the international press. According to information verified together with the Association of International Press Correspondents (ACPI), crews from at least three international media outlets - which, for security reasons, preferred not to be identified - were chased, beaten and threatened with lynching by demonstrators on 18 May while covering protests in the cities of La Paz and El Alto. One of the media professionals was even marked with white paint by demonstrators, making him a visible target.

Bolivia is experiencing a new wave of unrest amid political tension, an economic crisis and disputes between social sectors. The confrontation between pro-government factions, opposition groups and organisations aligned with former president Evo Morales has deepened political polarisation. This has been compounded by protests from mining sectors, road blockades and an increasingly tense relationship between demonstrators and security forces.

Bolivia is ranked 91st out of 180 countries and territories in RSF's 2026 World Press Freedom Index.