Arrest at Viru Viru Airport
Bolivian authorities detained Fernando Cerimedo, a political consultant who advised Argentine President Javier Milei, in the early hours of Tuesday at Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. He was about to board an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight to Buenos Aires when officers from the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC) intercepted him. He was then taken to FELCC facilities and placed at the disposal of Bolivian justice.[S1][S2][S4]
The detention came just hours after an armed attack on lawyer and activist Nadia Beller, identified as his ex-partner. Cerimedo is the main suspect in the investigation, but his apprehension does not imply guilt or proven participation. Authorities are working to establish his possible role in planning or hiring the attackers.[S2][S4][S5]
The Attack on Nadia Beller
The attack occurred on Monday night at a hotel near the Isuto canal in Santa Cruz. Security cameras captured two men, dressed as food delivery workers and wearing motorcycle helmets, approaching Beller. One of them drew a gun and fired three times, while the other took her purse and cell phone. The assailants fled on a motorcycle, later switching to another vehicle.[S1][S3][S4][S5][S6]
Beller was rushed to a medical center, where she underwent surgery and remains hospitalized in serious condition. The FELCC director in Santa Cruz, Colonel Jhonny Coca, said the case is initially being investigated as attempted homicide. He described the incident as a woman being hit by three bullets as she left the hotel.[S1][S2][S5]
Cerimedo's Political Career
Cerimedo, founder of a Buenos Aires-based political consultancy, a digital marketing school, and an activist portal, has advised regional leaders including Javier Milei and Jair Bolsonaro. He is also a co-founder of La Derecha Diario and was a strategist for Milei's campaign from Brazil, associated with Santiago Caputo. He has faced legal proceedings in several countries.[S1][S3][S5]
His arrival in Bolivia was gradual. He began advising a liberal pre-candidate who failed to register, then connected with Rodrigo Paz's campaign through Paz's daughter, who had been a student at his academy. Since Paz took office, Cerimedo has been part of his inner circle, directing communication and political strategy, though he holds no official position.[S1]
Background and Reactions
Beller has a history in Bolivian politics: she was a MAS candidate for deputy in 2019, later linked to civic movement leader Luis Fernando Camacho, and recently part of Paz's advisory team. The case has generated significant repercussion in Bolivia and Argentina due to Cerimedo's political profile and his ties to the current Bolivian government.[S1][S2][S4]
Cerimedo's relationship with Milei deteriorated over time, especially after the $Libra case, and he was involved in a 2025 scandal over audios attributed to Diego Spagnuolo. He also faced controversy in Brazil during the 2022 elections for spreading a transmission about alleged fraud. His wife, Natalia Basil, was an ANDIS official until late 2025.[S4][S5]
