Interamerican Watch Newsletter - Issue 493
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Inter-American Watch
Thursday 5/14/2026Argentina
The Federal Criminal Economic Court rejected the attempt by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and its president, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, to overturn the decision that declared their appeal in the case abandoned. The association and the executive are being prosecuted, with 350 million pesos in assets frozen, for the alleged misappropriation of tax and social security contributions related to Argentine football clubs. ...Read more >>Source: infobae.com
The investigations into the top officials of the AFA have been stalled for more than two months. The court cases are moving almost on autopilot, awaiting a decision from the Court of Cassation. The highest criminal court holds the key to dismantling a maneuver that sought to concentrate all relevant cases in the federal court of Campana. ...Read more >>
Source: lanacion.com.ar
Bolivia
Supporters of former president Evo Morales warned on Monday that they would “shake up” the country if the former leader is arrested, after a court declared him in contempt of court and issued an arrest warrant against him for failing to appear at the start of a trial for alleged aggravated human trafficking. ...Read more >>Source: unitel.bo
The Bolivian Prosecutor's Office confirmed on Tuesday that it will request a 20-year prison sentence for former President Evo Morales for aggravated human trafficking, in the context of the legal case concerning his relationship with a minor during the final years of his presidency. The prosecutor for the department of Tarija, José Mogro, explained that the aggravating factor is that the alleged victim was a minor when the events occurred, back in 2015. ...Read more >>
Source: biobiochile.cl
The government of Rodrigo Paz blamed former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) for promoting the mobilizations against him, amid the escalating social conflicts that Bolivia has been experiencing for the past couple of weeks. ...Read more >>
Source: infobae.com
Cuba
The Cuban regime, in addition to its economic incompetence and ideological rhetoric, is "focused on the repression and suppression of dissent," as well as on the "militarization of the country's public life," denounced the legal advisory group Cubalex in its April report on Tuesday. The report highlighted the rise in poverty and the overall collapse of society, as well as an "increase in incidents of social violence and citizen insecurity." ...Read more >>Source: diariodecuba.com
Five days after the secret meeting between U.S. and Cuban delegations held on April 10 in Havana, two State Security agents visited Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez at the Kilo 8 maximum-security prison in Pinar del Río and gave him an ultimatum: go into exile or remain imprisoned until 2030, according to audio recordings obtained by USA Today. ...Read more >>
Source: cibercuba.com
Cuban political prisoner Alieski Calderín Acosta was confined to a solitary confinement cell at the Kilo 8 prison in Camagüey province. The severe measure was allegedly imposed in retaliation for their constant complaints about the precarious conditions of hygiene, food, and mistreatment within the prison. ...Read more >>
Source: martinoticias.com
Cuban activists met in Brussels with Kajsa Ollongren, the European Union's (EU) Special Representative for Human Rights, and members of the European External Action Service to present them with the Release Agreement signed by dozens of opposition organizations. ...Read more >>
Source: martinoticias.com
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has taken a step that fully integrates it into international counterterrorism standards: as of Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) and the Lebanese group Hezbollah have been officially classified as terrorist organizations by the Dominican government. ...Read more >>Source: infobae.com
Ecuador
The gasoline crisis in Ecuador began as a rumor among drivers, but quickly became a palpable reality. Since Friday, May 8, 2026, service stations have faced shortages that affect not only motorists, but also the country's economy. The long lines at gas stations on Wednesday the 13th reflect the problem. ...Read more >>Source: elcomercio.com
Interamerican Institute for Democracy
By our Director: Beatrice E. Rangel...the Caspian Sea—for decades considered a geopolitical periphery—could end up playing a much more decisive role than many Western strategists imagined. ...Read more >>
Source: intdemocratic.org
By our Director: Ricardo Israel
It was widely believed that the US and Israel would militarily defeat Iran after last year's 12-day war, which left it without air defenses and with its nuclear program in ruins. ...Read more >>
Source: intdemocratic.org
By our Director: Carlos Sánchez Berzaín
Democracy has not yet fully consolidated, and organized crime, which once held total power, still maintains significant tentacles and has not yet died. ...Read more >>
Source: intdemocratic.org
Guest Columnist | Hugo Marcelo Balderrama
For two decades, Mexican, Brazilian, and Colombian cartels have had a presence in Bolivia. In fact, two of Colombia's most powerful criminal organizations, Los Urabeños and Los Rastrojos, are suspected of operating in the eastern part of the country. ...Read more >>
Source: intdemocratic.org
Venezuela
The protest comes three months after the approval of an amnesty law promoted by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who governs under strong pressure from the United States following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January. ...Read more >>Source: france24.com