In a significant development in the ongoing political climate of El Salvador, Ruth López, a prominent lawyer qualified as an anti-corruption advocate, was arrested late Sunday, raising alarm about the repercussions for dissent in the country. López, who heads the anti-corruption unit of a human rights organization, has been vocal in accusing President Nayib Bukele’s government of corruption and impropriety.
As of Monday morning, no formal charges had been disclosed against López, and her whereabouts remained undisclosed, as indicated by a statement from the rights organization she works with. The attorney general’s office did confirm her "administrative detention," linking it to her previous association with Eugenio Chicas, a former magistrate embroiled in criminal allegations. Chicas had been arrested in February for allegations of illicit enrichment.
The attorney general's accusations against López suggest complicity in financial misconduct, stating that she was involved in the misappropriation of public funds. The swift arrest has prompted an outcry from various human rights organizations and legal experts, who have voiced concerns that this move exemplifies an aggressive strategy to silence opposition voices under President Bukele’s regime.
Human rights observers have pointed to Bukele’s strengthened alliance with global political figures, notably former President Trump, as emboldening his administration to intensify its crackdown on critics. The situation remains fluid, with activists calling for her immediate release and warning of the broader implications for legal advocacy and democratic processes in El Salvador.
